IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


■^1^    ill 

g  Ki    12.2 

us 

■it 
u 


14.0 


■ 

I 


2.0 


11-25  III  1.4 


1.6 


Fhotografiiic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


23  WKT  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTER.N.Y.  14580 

(71«)S72-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVl/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notaa  tachniquas  at  bibliographiquaa 


Th 
to 


''ha  Inttituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
w.iginai  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographicaliy  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chack«Nj  balow. 


Ef 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


□   Covars  damagad/ 
Couvartura  andommagAa 

□   Covars  rastorad  and/or  iaminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastauria  at/ou  palliculAa 


n 


D 

n 


D 


D 


Covar  titia  missing/ 

La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


□   Colourad  mapa/ 
Cartaa  gtegraphiquaa  an  coulaur 


Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

Colourad  platas  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchas  at/ou  illuatrationa  9n  coulaur 

Sound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Rali*  avac  d'autras  documants 


Tight  binding  may  eauaa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

Laraiiura  sarrte  paut  cauaar  da  i'ombra  ou  da  la 
distorsion  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Blank  laavas  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  sa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajout^aa 
lors  d'una  raatauration  apparaiasant  dans  la  taxta, 
maia,  iorsqua  cala  Atait  possibla.  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  4ti  filmAaa. 

Additional  commaots:/ 
Commantairaa  supplAmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  la  maillairr  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  itA  possibla  da  sa  procurar.  Las  ditaiis 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  sont  paut-4tra  uniquas  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua.  qui  pauvant  modifiar 
una  imaga  raproduita,  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  da  fiimaga 
sont  indiquis  ci-dassous. 


□   Colourdd  pagaa/ 
Pagaa 


Pagaa  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagias 


□   Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  Iaminatad/ 
Pagaa  raataurtes  at/ou  pailiculias 

("r/^Pagaa  discolourad.  stainad  or  foxad/ 
IJlJ   Pagaa  dtcolorias.  tachatias  ou  piquias 

□   Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagas  ditach^as 

r~Vshowthrough/ 
\jC\   Transparanca 

□   Quality  of  print  varias/ 
Quality  inigaia  da  I'impraasion 

□   Includas  supplementary  material/ 
Comprand  du  material  suppUmentaira 


r~|   Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Seuie  Mition  disponible 

Pagas  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissuaa.  etc..  hava  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Lee  pagas  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obacurciaa  par  un  fauillet  d'errata.  una  pelure, 
etc..  ont  it*  filmtes  i  nouveau  da  fa^on  i 
obtanir  la  meilleure  imaga  possible. 


Th 
pa 
of 
fil 


Oi 
ba 
th 
si( 
ot 
fir 
si( 
or 


Th 
sh 
Tl 
wl 

Mi 
dil 
en 
be 

rig 
rei 
m( 


Thia  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ca  document  eat  film*  au  taux  da  reduction  indiquA  ci*daaaous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


2SX 


30X 


y 


12X 


16X 


aox 


»x 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hee  been  reproduced  thenkt 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Metropolitin  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 


L'exemplelre  fllmi  fut  reprodult  grice  i  la 
gin^roslt*  de: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 


The  imagee  appearing  here  are  the  beet  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  AtA  rsprodultes  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  le  condition  et 
de  la  nettet«  de  I'exempiaire  film4,  et  en 
conformitA  avec  las  conditions  du  contrat  de 
flimage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  lmpres> 
sion,  or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres> 
sion,  and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  origlnaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmis  en  commen9ant 
par  ie  premier  plat  et  en  termlnant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  ie  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autres  exemplaires 
orlgineux  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  termlnant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TII\IUED"),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUiVRE".  ie 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  ee 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  fitre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  filmi  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supirleur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'>meges  nAcessaire.  lies  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mMhoda. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

t^i^m^ 


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p 


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BY  »'^RV:A?^^feAj>i>': 


1(#i 


■'  Sr- 


/ 


!  M 


H 


I 


A  PLEA  FOR  EMIGRATION; 


•<■■        «i-i»vi  ■'■> 


■i* 


■#*■    ■' 


0R«^ 


■■;*' 


NOTES    OF    CANADA    WEST, 


IN    ITS 


'*-:^^ 


M 


■A  a 


MORAL,  SOCIAL,  AND  POLITICAL  ASPECT : 


WITH 


SUGOESTIONS    RESPECTING    MEXICO,    WEST    INDIES; 


■S-:-cv;;.?¥^->- 


M,:     AND  VANCOUVER'S  ISLAND, 


■-.>• 


■J  4 


FOB   THE 


INFORMATION  DF  COLORED  EMIGRANTS. 


:.'?'"{PH",- 


* 

BY  MARY  A.  SHAD^I^. 


#. 


.1' 


)  ♦ 


-,t 


DETROIT: 
IPRINT^D    BY    GEORGE    W.    PATtlSON. 

18d2.  • 


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M 


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ii 


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a-r^,.//}  ■']<)     >i'A'1^^\f: 


Ms         V  1 


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A-     V- 


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.i.-^i.ir;'i 


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a   'H? 


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(vi^^jrf-  •'■.■<;.■'  »;i.-.' ' 


»•  .1 


■j.'.fi'-v^il'ni    !■**■    .' 


m'j^jw  ,t»;Wji 


INTRODUCTORY  REMARKS. 


1  " 


\i 


^tM*M<.U:^>V    u-    l;     .  '>i5><.frV'-    ii 


!^n  >■{.,< 


The  increasing  desire  on  the  part  of  the  colored  people,  to  become 
thoroughly  informed  respecting  the  Canadas,  and  particularly  that 
part  of  the  province  called  Canada  West — to  learn  of  the  climate, 
soil  and  productions,  and  of  the  inducements  offered  generally  to 
•emigrants,  and  to  them  particularly,  since  that  the  passage  of  the 
odious  Fugitive  Slave  Law  has  made  a  residf  nee  in  the  United  States 
to  many  of  th«m  dangerous  in  the  extreme, — ^this  consideration,  and 
the  absence  of  condensed  information  accessible  to  all,  is  my  excuse 
for  offering  this  tract  to  the  notice  of  the  public.  The  people  are  in  a 
strait, — on  the  one  hand,  a  pro-slavery  administration,  with  its  entire 
controllable  force,  is  bearing  upon  the^l  with  fatal  effect :  on  the 
otlier,  the  Colonization  Society,  in  the  garb  of  ChrktianUy  alld 
Philanthropy y  is  seconding  the  efforts  of  the  first  named  power,  by 
bringing  into  the  lists  a  vast  social  and  immoral  influence,  thus  mak- 
ing more  effective  the  agencies  employed.  Information  is  needed.';— 
Tropical  Africa,  the  land  of  promise  of  the  colonizationists,  teemifl]^ 
«|f  as  she  is  with  the  breath  of  pestilence,  a  burning  sun  and  fearful  mal- 
adies, bids  them  welcome  ; — she  feelingly  invites  to  moral  and  phys- 
ical death,  under  a  voluntimy  escort  of  their  most  bitter  enemies  at 
home.  Ag»in,  many  look  with  dreadful  forebodings  to  the  probabil- 
^i.%||^^lty  of  worse  than  inquisitorial  inhumanity  in  the  Southern  States,. 


4 


H*' 


I 


IV 


PREFATOUV    UKMAUKS. 


from  the  operation  of  the  Fiifijitivo  Law.  Certain  tliat  neitlier  a  home 
in  Africa,  nor  in  tlic  Soutliern  States,  is  desirable  under  present  dte* 
cumstances,  inquiry  is  made  respectinff  Canada.  I  liave  endeavored 
to  furnish  information  to  a  certain  extent,  to  that  end,  and  believinii- 
thai  more  reliance  would  be  placed  upon  a  statement  of  facts  obtained 
in  the  country,  from  reliable  sources  and  from  observation,  than  upon 
a  repetition  of  current  statements  made  elsewhere,  however  honestly 
made,  I  determined  to  visit  Canada,  and  to  there  collect  such  infor- 
mation as  most  persons  desire.  These  pages  contain  the  result  of 
much  inquiry — matter  obtained  both  from  individuals  and  from  doc- 
uments and  papers  of  unquestionable  character  in  the  Province. 

,  ,    M.  A.  S. 


i-,)!  fii  -'/■■■■.■v-y.',}--.)  iH'tl:'\^<   ffiKiu  i 


'iit  <f  JfJ^    ;^^■/iJ) 


f'.'-   .'.•■' 


■\4  i.yiiti^-i   U:Tf|#.ti;.  ,i^:>U_   -sA,;y  ■j;;f4i:..  ^  •;;    ,rn<li    ■•lilH^Unlu.'v 

■       '  '        '■      '  '       .  Ai. 

'      m-v^Vid  <i^m¥^4^  !^J.-4'H>^}^,  HMItei;iih^^  r'  tw0f  Jl^-^)^U'<x 


'»IH. 


orcd 


n-^^ 


■         '■  \  k  ''      '" 


.■/Xl< 


nm.'-  Kuii 


I,-,  Is 


*r.4 1 

■■/•' 

A    PLEA    FOR    EMIGRATION,  aC^'^'^ 


,•>    .'' . ) 


riii    tJ/;iu  BRITISH    AMERICA.   ..-^mM  me  mi  Ji9^ 

British  America,  it  is  well  known,  is  a  country  equal  in  extent, 
at  least,  to  the  United  States,  extending  on  the  north  to  the  Arctic 
Ocean,  from  the  Atlantic  on  the  cast,  to  the  Pacific  on  the  west,  and 
the  southern  boundary  of  which  is  subject  to  the  inequalities  in  lati- 
tude of  the  several  Northern  States  and  Territories  belonging  to  the 
United  States  govemment.  This  vast  country  includes  within  its 
limits,  some  of  the  most  beautiful  lakes  and  rivers  on  the  Western 
Continent.  The  climate,  in  the  higher  latitudes,  is  extremely  severe, 
but  for  a  considerable  distance  north  of  the  settled  districts,  particular- 
ly in  the  western  part,  the  climate  is  healthy  aftd  temperate  :  epidem- 
ics are  not  of  such  frequency  as  in  the  United  States,  owing  to  a  moi'fe 
equable  temperature,  and  local  diseases  are  unknown.  The  province 
claiming  especial  attention,  as  presenting  features  most  desirable  in  a 
residence,  is  Canada,  divided  into  East  and  West ;  and  of  these  Can- 


ada West  is  to  be  preferred. 


THE  CANADAS— CLIMATE,  ETC. 


.  i>'-H^m'''imii  ^IT»-^«J  <ei.fiWJ»^Ti(^j» !» 


■  i  m.Um!ri0iir>^-ri.  tig 


il.' 


':^-hm, 


iim  ul. 


Canada  East,  from  geographical  position  and  natural  charaeterie^ 
tics,  is  not  so  well  suited  to  a  variety  of  pursuits,  as  the  more  western, 
part  of  the  province.  The  surface  is  generally  uneven,  and  in  many- 
parts  mountainous;  its  more  northern  location  subjects  the  mhabitantfti 
to  extremely  cold,  cheerless  winters,  and  short  but  warm  summers^ 
The  land  is  of  good  quality,  $kd  vegetation  is  of  rapid  growth,  but 
the  general  healthiness  of  the  country  is  inferior  to.  some  of  the  other 
^islricts.    Th%;  State  of  Maine  presents  a  fair  sample  qC  Lowjec  Canr 


*   * 


6 


NOTIH   OF   CANADA    WK8T. 


It 


■     i 


«da  in  the  general.  Population  (which  is  principally  French)  is 
confined  chiefly  to  the  valley  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  conlitfy 
contiguous.  In  Canada  West,  the  variation  from  a  salubrious  and 
eminently  healthy  climate,  is  nowhere  suflicient  to  cause  the  huist 
solicitude  ;  on  the  contrary,  exempt  from  the  steady  and  enfeeblin/^* 
warmth  of  southern  latitudes,  and  tlie  equally  injurious  characteristics 
of  polar  countries,  it  is  highly  conducive  to  mental  and  pliysical  en- 
ergy. Persons  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the 
neighboring  districts,  say  that  their  winters  are  much  less  severe  than 
when,  in  past  years,  vast  forests  covered  that  region — that  very  deep 
enows  are  less  frequent  than  they  were,  and  that  owing  to  the  great 
body  of  ice  that  accumulates  in  the  Lakes,  the  people  living  in  the 
States  bordering,  suffer  more  severely  from  the  cold  than  Canadians, 
— the  ice  making  more  intense  the  north  winds  sweeping  over  it.  If 
these  statements  admit  of  a  iloubt,  we  well  know  that  many  flourish- 
ing towns  in  Canada  are  farther  south  than  a  large  portion  of  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  New  York,  Michigan  and  Oregon,  and 
should,  m  considering  this  fact,  have  the  full  benefit  of  geographical 
position,  I  have  thought  proper  to  allude  to  the  cold,  at  first,  for  the 
reason  that  it  is  the  feature  in  the  climate  most  dwelt  upon — the  so- 
licitude of  friends,  ignorant  on  this  point,  and  of  persons  less  disinter- 
ested, often  appealing  to  fears  having  no  foundation  whatever,  when 
the  facte  are  fairly  set  forth.  ,^^^,,  «Hiiv,r,.u 

7,he  products  of  a  country  make  an  important  item,  in  all  cases  in  whicli 
this  question  is  being  considered;  so  in  the  present  instance.  In  Cana- 
da we  find  the  vegetation  of  as  rank  growth  as  in  the  middle  and  north- 
,  lem  United  States.     In  order  to  promote  a  luxuriance  in  the  products 
.i.|j  of  »  country  equally  with  another,  the  conditions  necessary  to  that 
*  •eml^ttst  be  equal, — if  by  reference  to  facts,  an  approach  to  similar- 
-.  itTjr  ean  be  made,  that  part  of  the  subject  will  be  settled  for  the  present. 
Ji^early  as  March  there  are  indications  of  permanent  Spring  weather, 
,.asid  in  June  and  July,  the  summer  will  compare  with  the  same  sea- 
SOD  m»ik  of  the  line.     In  January  ^d  February  there  are  always 
<cold  spdiisiaid  warm  alternating,  as  is  our  experience  ;  but  when  the 
waiNp  |ii|pii<^gnmenccs,  the  heat  is  intense,  and  the  fflpwth  of  ve^^- 


■^' 


NOTKB   UK   CANADA    WK8T. 


reiich)  ig 

rious  and 
5  tlie  huftt 
nfoeblin/Lf 
ic'teristics 
y^sical  en- 

and  the 
v't're  than 
'ery  deep 
the  great 
Jg  in  the 
inadjans, 
er  it.     If 

flourish - 
»f  Maine, 
gon,  and 
graphical 
t,  for  the 
—the  80- 
disinter- 
T,  when 

nwhieli 
n  Cana- 
1  north- 
•roducts 
to  that 
similar- 
)re8ent. 
eatiier, 
ae  sea- 
always 
den  the 
F  v^e> 


< 


1 


tatioa  U  rapid,  m  that  whatever  deficiency  may  be  atiributeU  to  ilr 
britf  firiod.  may  be  fully  compensated  for  in  tfte  steady  and  equal 
tetnpcrature  auer  the  warm  season  has  fairly  set  in;  though  it  ii  late 
beginning,  it  is  prolonged  into  what  is  the  autumn  with  us,  and  far- 
mers harvest  their  crops  of  wheat,  hay,  &c.,  at  a  later  perioil  thaa 
in  the  Middle  Stntes,  generally, — August  and  September  being  the 
months  in  which  hay,  wheat,  and  some  other  crops  are  gathered  in. 
Taking  this  circumstance  in  connection  with  the  regularity  of  the 
seasons,  and  uniform  heat  or  cold  when  they  have  such  weather,  the 
superiority  of  many  products,  as  wheat,  fruit,  &o.,  may  be  aooountod 
for.  I  say  superiority,  because,  in  its  place,  I  hope  to  give  such  evir 
dence  as  will  substantiate  the  assertion.  Annexed  is  a  table  setting 
forth  the  greatest  degree  of  cold  and  heat, — in  the  years  mentioned, 
as  indicated  by  Fahrenheit's  Thermometer,  together  With  tbe  higheet 
and  lowest  range  indicated  in  the  months  of  September  ami  Deceia- 
ber  of  1861,  which  last  has  been  said  to  be  unusual,  (the  lowest  ka 
twenty  years)  by  the  "oldest  inhabitant." 


ii 


GREATEST 

DBO. 

OV 

HEAT. 

1840. 

. 

82  «  4' 

1841. 

• 

93  ®r 

1842. 

. 

91° 

1843. 

- 

89° 

1844. 

• 

V 

86®  8' 

1845. 

- 

96® 

1846. 

- 

94®  6' 

1847. 

- 

87® 

LOWEST     DBO. 


-fiifl, 


H   fu, 


OF    COLD. 
«18®6' 


•  ■   '.'.tTSi 

-  -  -      1® 

-  -        -    9® 

-  ,         -     4® 
|<J® 


illli-^'flgi  <>:1  Jfetflfe 


?) 


''■  sr«> 


'  jf  Catechism  of  Information  for  Intended  Emnmnis  of  all  Ci 

*  *••»  jit  ' 


^P>iuiii4 


7t 

r 
a» 

a*: 

r 

* 'These  are  the  extreme  ranges  of  cold  and  heai  indicated  at  the 
Observatory,  an  one  day  during  the  seasons,  but  wliichi  do  pot  la9^ 
beyond  a  few  hours  ;  the  mean  temperature  of  the  four  months  of 
summer  and  four  of  winter  for  the  last  eight  years  have  beea  TespwH' 
tively  :  Summer  76  ®  6'  <  Wmter  26  ®  T,  Fahrenheit."*  Jjk  a^- 
tion  to  the  usual  state  of  the  weather  of  the  last  year,  as  contiraete4 
with  former  periods,  the  last  summer  and  first  autumn  months  wef? 
very  warm,  and  in  the  month  of  September  indicated  96  ®  Fahren- 
heit, in  the  shade,  without  eliciting  remarks  other  than  a  si^ajUi^  state 


?^: 


I, 


1:1 


a  t 


rfer^ 


••v 


<-  - 


"ife^ 


8 


NOTES   OF   CANADA   WEST. 


of  weathef,  at  that  seftsbn,  would  have  in  the  United  States.  In 
short,  from  much  corfrersation  with  persons  of  many  years  re^<i|iilil!e, 
I  believe  that  climate  opposes  no  obstacle  to  emigration,  but  thattt  is 
the  most  desirable  known  in  so  high  a  latitude,  for  emigrants  general- 
ly, andl  colored  people  particularly.  In  other  parts  of  British  Ameri- 
ca, as,  for  inistance.  Lower  Canada,  Nova  Scotia,  and  New  Britain, 
thd  cold'  is  more  intense,  but  when  we  think  of  *'  .  extent  of  Upper 
Canada,  there  would  be  no  more  reason  for  ascribing  severe  cold  to 
the!  whole,  than  there  would  be  to  class  the  climate  of  the  United 
States  with  that  of  the  torrid  zone,  because  of  the  great  heat  in  the 
lower  latitude.  In  this  province  the  regularity  of  the  seasons  pro- 
mote health  in  a  greater  degree  than  in  those  countries  subject  to 
frequent  changes,  as  in  many  of  the  United  States,  where  cold  and 
warm  weather  alternate  in  quick  succession ;  and  in  the  upper  pro- 
vince especially,  universal  testimony  to  the  healthiness  of  the  chmate 
«btaina.^)"»*  '»^i'5|,'«">»i?'ttf  ^t^'iiil   }>ij;yvti:>'^lVH(}  J^JiJit.firndvy^id^t  %i^'»<i 

SOIL,— TIMBER,— CLE AllING  LANDS. 


.«,IOU     '*U      .iJilti       l*«9lW«Jr 


.•■r/.-a,H    uti  ■  .atu   TlfiST'Aasisj 


The  quality  and  different  kinds  of  soil  must  form  the  second  sub- 
ject for  consideration,  because,  in  connection  with  climate,  it  enters 
largely  into  all  our  ideas  of  comfort  and  pecuniary  independence ; 
again,  because  so  far  as  colored  people  are  interested  in  the  subject  of 
emigration  to  any  country,  their  welfare,  in  a  pecuniary  view,  is  pro- 
moted by  attention  to  the  quality  of  the  soil.  Lands  out  of  the  Uni- 
^  jd  States,  on  this  continent,  should  have  no  local  value,  if  the  ques- 
tiohs  of  personal  freedom  and  political  rights  were  left  out  of  the 
subject,  but  as  they  are  paramount,  too  much  may  not  be  said  on  this 
point.  I  mean  to  be  understood,  that  a  description  of  lands  in  Mexi- 
vC0%ould  prot)a'bly  be  as  desirable  as  lands  in  Canada,  if  the  idea 
weH  iiimply  to  get  lands  and  settle  thereorf ;  but  it  is  important  to 
iiiow  if  by  this  investigation  we  only  agitate,  and  leave  the  public 
,miiid  m  ah  uh'settled  state,  or  if  a  permanent  nationality  is  included 
in  the  prospect  of  l)ecominff  purchasers  and  settlers. 

[The  question,  does  the  soil  of  Canada  offer  inducemeiits  sufficient 
^pdeterini^ejirotsp^ive  emigrants  in  its  favor  ?  may  be  (uiswered  bjr 


# 


^-^j^ 


pt 

the 
that 
the  I 
darl 

rea<^ 
the! 
clet 


;t 


m 


NOTBS   OF    CANADA   WEST. 


1^9 


States.    In 

It  that  it  tS 
itsgeneral- 
ish  Ameri- 
w  Britain, 

of  Upper 
ere  cold  to 
ihe  United 
eat  in  the 
asons  pro- 
subject  to 

cold  and 
pper  pro- 

le  climate 

'  f  'i . 

■  ■  1      /      .  * .;  ■  V 

:)nd  sub- 
it  enters 
Jndence ; 
ibject  of 
',  is  pro- 
the  Uni- 
he  ques- 
t  of  the 
i  on  this 
n  Mexi- 
the  idea 
rtant  to 
3  public 
icludcd 

iificient 
{red  bjr 


,-f 


one  for  himself,  after  having  properly  weighed  the  following 
Persons  who  have  been  engaged  in  agriculture  the  greater 
pasri  of  their  lives,-^practical  and  competent  farmers,  and  judges  of 
the  capacity-  of  different  sftils, — say,  that  the  soil  is  unsurpassed  by 
that  of  Kentucky  and  States  farther  south,  and  naturally  superior  to 
the  adjoining  northern  States.  It  is  not  only  indicated  by  the  rich, 
dark  and  heavy  appearance,  and  the  depth  of  the  soil,  which  is  seldom 
reached  by  plows  of  the  greatest  capacity,  but  by  the  character  of 
the  products,  and  the  urecualled  growth  and  size  of  timber  on  un^ 
cleared  lands.  Wheat,  the  staple  product  of  the  country,  averages 
sixty  pounds  to  the  bus|;^el— often  actually  exceeding  that ;  fifty-six 
is  the  standard  weight  in  the  United  States ;  and  leaving  out  Dela- 
ware, that  is  seldom  reached.  The  forest  consists  of  walnut,  hidcory, 
white  and  burr  oak,  basswood,  ash,  pine,  poplar — all  of  the  largest 
size,  and  other  inferior  kinds  of  wood  with  which  we  are  not  familiar 
in  our  northern  woods.  There  is  a  greater  variety  in  them,  and  lar*< 
ger  size,  and  knowing  thai  the  size  of  vegetables  depends  mainly 
upon  the  quantity  of  nutriment  afforded  by  the  soil,  we  are  led  in  this 
instance  to  infer  its  superiority.  Besides  the  well  known  wheat,  oats, 
buckwheat,  Indian  com,  and  other  grains,  are  raised  oi  good  quali- 
ty, and  with  profit,  and  more  to  the  acre  than  is  usually  obtt^ned  in 
the  States,  except  on  the  application  of  fertilizing  materials — a  mode 
not  much  practised  in  Canada  hitherto^  the  land  not  having  been  ex- 
hausted suflEiciently  to  require  such  appliances  to  further  its  productive- 
ness. The  varieties  of  soil,  are  a  black  loam,  sandy  loam>  clay^  and 
sand,  but  a  blacl^loam  is  the  predominating  kind.  I  speak  now  of 
the  cultivated  districts,  and  those  in  process  of  clesuing,  as  far  north 
«s  Lord  Selkirk's  settlement,  for  the  country  beyond  the  present 
limits  of  civilization,  I  do  not  feel  warranted  in  speaking,  nor  to 
give  in  other  than  general  terms,  the  testimony  of  those  acquaiiited 
with  that  region.  It  is  said  to  be  equally  fertile,  but  the  products 
not  so  varied,  because  of  its  more  northern  situation.  Tbe^  general 
appearance  of  the  province  is  undulating,  though  there  is  much  level 
country.  Numerous  and  beautiful  rivers,  and  smaller  streams,  run 
through  the  country,  in  all  directions,  so  that  there  is  no  lack  of  wa- 
2  .  ' 


10 


HOTSS  OF   CANADA   WBST. 


i? 


ter  power.     "  The  plains,"  a  term  applied  to  level  oountry,  **a|0 
generally  sandy,  and  yield  regular  average  and  certain  crop8,^iip- 
out  reference  to  the  seasons."*     Tbey  are  similar  to  the  westcnrn 
pt^ries,  but  more  capital  is  necessary  to  cultivate  them  than  for  tim- 
ber lands.    The  advantage  of  timbered  land,  to  purchasers  of  small 
capital,  over  plains,  is  considerable.    On  cultivated,  or  plain  lands, 
on  which  timber  is  thinly  scattered,  the  earliest  return  for  labor  spent 
is  deferred  to  the  growth  of  a  crop  ;  besides  the  mode  of  tillage  is 
different.    Not  so  on  ihe  timbered  lands  ;  wood  ever  meets  a  ready 
and  cash  sale,  and  more  may  be  realized  from  firewood  than  to  three 
times  pay  the  cost  of  a  farm.    Wood  land  will  average  seventy  cords 
to  th0  acre,  eveYy  cord  of  which  can  be  readily  disposed  of  at  two 
and  two  and  a  half  dollars,  cash,  in  the  towns.     The  regularity  of 
the  seasons  tends,  ailso,  to  increase  the  farmer's  security,  so  that  of  all 
other  men,  be  is  least  apprehensive  of  want.     ''If  the  fall  wheat 
fails,"  says  the  little  book  referred  to,  "he  replaces  it  with  spring 
wheat ;  and  our  seasons  are  so  peculiar  that  some  crops  are  always 
certain  to  be  productive."     *     *     *     Those  whose  capital  invested 
in  it  is  their  own,  are  sure  to  increase  their  means  and  wealth.     *  *  ^ 
*     •    If  a  farmer  determines  to  keep  out  of  debt,  and  be  satisfied 
with  what/his  farm  yields,  independence  in  a  few  years  will  be  the 
result."    The  above  extracts  are  intended  for  the  benefit  of  the  emi- 
graQts  in  general, — ^men  of  small  means,  or  with  no  capital, — and 
fihow  what  maybe  expected  by  generally  the  least  wealthy  who  set- 
tie  in  a  new  country.    From  the  many  instances  of  success  under 
my  observation,  (particularly  of  formerly  totally  destitute  colored 
persons,)  I  &rm\y  believe  that  with  an  axe  and  a  little  energy,  an 
independent  position  would  result  in  a  short  period.    The  cost  of 
oler*mg  wild  lands,  is  also  an  important  item ;  by  that  is  meant  put^ 
ting  3aad  in  a  state  to  receive  a  crop, — it  includes  clearing  of  trees, 
fencing>,  ^Icc.     This  can  be  done  at  less  cost  near  the  settled  districts. 
<*In  moderately  timbered"  lands,  ten  dollars  the  acre  is  the  least  for 
which  it  can  be  done, — ^more  remote,  the  price  varies  from  that  to 


ih.%\ 


Catechism. 


mtiy, 
rops,' 
he  western 
an  for  tim- 
rs  of  small 
lain  lands, 
abor  spent 
f  tillage  is 
its  a  ready 
in  to  three 
enty  cords 
of  at  two 
afularity  of 
that  of  all 
kll  wheat 
ith  spring 
re  always 
i\  invested 
1th.    <»^" 

e  satisfied 
ill  be  the 
■  the  emi- 
tal, — and 

whoset- 
sss  under 
3  colored 
lergy,  an 
le  cost  of 
3ant  put^ 
of  trees, 
districts, 
least  for 

that  to 


NOTBS  Oil'   CANADA  WEST. 


u 


^Muty  dollars.  Though  tlie  prevalent  opinion  in  the  province,  is,  that 
th%soilis  second  to  none  for  agricultural,  purposes,  yet  it  i»  hardly 
possible  to  state  the  actual  productiveness  of  the  soil,  as  the  attention 
has  not  been  given  to*  farming  that  the  land  admits.  There  are, 
and  must  be  for  a  time,  few  experimental  and  scientific  faimers^  as  it 
IS  more  as  a  means  of  present  subsistence,  than  to*  test  the  ci^paciiy 
of  different  soils,  that  the  farmer  labors  te  procure  a  crop ;  though 
the  conviction  is  irresistible  that  mdigence  and  moderate*competenoe 
must  at  no  distant  day,  g;ve  pkce  to  wealth,  intelligence,  and  their 
conco«aitants.     nS^^t.^'-^-  *^'"''-■'■■"*''•v^ , 


.K 


GRilNS,  POTATaES,  TURNIPS,  &C. 


fi^'W^.' 


..A    ...^.,'i  ... 


..r  ^.„ 


>V  .T/ 


4-4- Ikv^.f   ■  I   ^(^  ^ 


Hie  accompanying  tat)!e  ezliibilis  t^e  average  yield'  to  the  aere',  61 
the  several  grains  mentioned,  in  fallow  land  : 

\ 


¥ 


■:ril;     ■'/.. 


^^5,    "I'Tp' 


ARTIOLES. 

Wheat,  -  -  ,  -  - 
Buckwheat,  i^ l^"  * 
Rye, 


•   mtiki..i:-i^ 


VO.  BWSH. 

15 
31^ 


ABTIOLESw 

Oats,     -     - 
Bariey,  -'  ^^ 
Indian  Com, 


KG.  BUSH. 
-     -     -         70 


Other  products  yielding  a  profitable  return,  and  that  fontt  a  part 
of  the  crop  in  well  cultivated  farms  generally,  in  the  United  States, 
are  potatoes — white  or  Irish  and  sweet, — carrots,  turnips,  {pumpkins, 
(several  kinds,  and  the  best  I  ever  saw,)  squashes  and  tobacco. 
These  vegetables  grow  very  large,  and  are  not  included  in  what  we 
term  garden  plants.  I  have  never  seen  in  the  lajrge  markets  of  our 
northern  cities,  vegetables  of  the  class  here  mentioned,  to  equal  them 
in  the  general,  except  the  sweet  potato.  The  Irish  potato  grows  much 
larger,  and  is  in  every  respect  superior  j  so  of  the  others.  Tobaeeo 
grows  finely,  and  meets  with  ready  sale  at  what  would  be  called  a 
high  price  with  us.  These  articles,  I  repeat,  areol  the  finest  des- 
cription, and  have  not,  of  oourse,  the  pithy  and  stringy  charaoteris- 
tics  so  general  in  the  same  kind  with  us.  It  is  dii&3ult  to  get  «t  the 
average  yield  of  such  things,  except  potatoes^  and  ti^niips,  but  a  6itt 
c^op  will  convey  the  MjUik. 


12i 


NOTES   OF   CANADA   WEST. 


iitf^J    ..;  >,*,.=^-r«'^      GARDEN  VEGETABLES,  fee. -;,r>ffT    •  .  i| 

yThe  most  abundant  are  tomatoes,  cucumbers,  onions,  be^ts,  cm- 
bage  and  cauliflower,  egg-plants,  beans,  peas,  leeks,  celery,  lettuce, 
asparagus,  melons,  (water-melons  and  musk-melons,)  cantelopes  and 
spiinage.  There  are  other  vegetables,  but  they  have  been  mentioned 
elsewhere.  These  articles,  excepting-  water-melons  and  cantelopes, 
are  cultivated  with  as  great  success,  at  least,  as  in  the  United  States, 
and  the  specimens  ^nerally  seen  in  the  gardens  and  market-places 
are  decidedly  superior.  ■       '^'*^  **^  '^^'^  ^^^  ,^^h'immh  Oif  ^iMm 

FRUITS— VINES— BERRIES. 

Canada  is  empbatically  a  fruit  country.  The  fruits  of  New  York, 
Michigan  and  New  Jersey,  have  long  been  famous:  but  if  comparison 
is  fairly  instituted,  pre-eminence  will  be  the  award  to  the  Province.^ 
Apples  grow  in  abundance,  wild  and  cultivated,  from  the  diminutive 
crab  to  the  highly  flavored  bell-flower  and  pippin ;  and  pears,  plums 
and  clierries,  in  many  varieties.  The  extent  to  which  fruit  is  culti- 
vated>  and  the  yield,  are  incredible.  Egg  and  blue  plums  are  raised 
with  ease,  and  strawberries,  raspberries,  grapes,  whortleberries,  and 
in  fact  all  of  the  fruits  seen  in  our  markets,  are  plentiful.  Other  ideas 
thai!  those  of  a  barren  soil,  and  scarcity  of  products,  are  induced  when 
visiting  the  market-places  of  Toronto,  Hamilton  and  other  large  towns. 
At  Toronto>  may  be  seen  one  of  the  best  markets  in  America  in 
every  way — the  supplies  furnished  by  the  farmers  of  their  own  agri- 
cultural districts.  At  the  State  Fair,  held  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  1851, 
the  first  prizes,  for  fruits,  fowls,  and  cattle,  were  awarded  to  Canada 
farmers ;  so  of  the  Fair  held  in  Western  New  York  during  the  sam^ 


ki  **■*! 


^     IK)MESTIC  ANIMALS— FOWLS— GAME.  V^ 

Iti  the  general,  the  horses  are  not  of  that  Jarge  siz6  found  in  the ' 
3lidd!e  and  Western  States,  but  are  of  medium  size,  particularly  those 
wised  by  the ; French  ;  yet,  occasioually,  one  may, see  larg6  horses^ 
am^ng  them,  and  cattle,  sheep,  etc.,  also.    The  size  6f  cattle  seems 
jiot  to  afiect  their  market  value  as  beef  and  mutton,  it  being  thought 
by  epicu/es  to  be  of  the  best  quality.    I  speak  of  the  French  in  this 


tbe^ 

ipric 
;mai 


I 


hei\ 


h 


»*ons,  beets,  cig- 
celeiy,  lettuce, 
)cantelopesan(t 
been  mentioned 
and  cant«Iope8, 
United  States, 
market-place* 

of  New  Yoi],, 
t  if  comparison 
the  Province, 
he  diminutive 
pears,  plums 
fruit  is  culti^ 
'ns  are  raised 
eberries,  and 

Other  ideas 
aduced  when 

We  towns, 
"^erica  in 
ir  own  agri- 
%an,  1851, 
■  to  Canada 
g:  the  same 


^d  in  the 
ariy  those 
r^  horses 
tie  seems 

r  thought 
li  in  this 


NOTES  OF   CANADA    WEST. 


19 


tion,  because  it  is  well  known,  they  form  no  inconsiderable  part 
le  ptffmlation.  Among  English,  and  other  farmers,  more  atten- 
tion is  paid  to  improving  stock — competition  is  as  spiritedly  carried 
)n  as  in  the  States,  consequently  cattle  and  horses  of  the  finest  kinds, 
sas  to  size  and  repute,  are  owned  by  them.  The  Canadian  pony,  with 
them,  gives  place  to  the  fine  English  draft  and  carriage  horse,  and 
Durham  and  other  kine  of  celebrity  are  justly  appreciated.  The 
^  pride  of  Canadian  farmers,  as  shown  in  a  fine  selection  of  such  ani- 
[mals,  is  not  at  all  less  than  that  of  their  * 'American'*  neighbors  :  a& 
before  said,  the  highest  premiums  given,  for  superior  cattle  and  sheep 
atBochester  and  Detroit,  in  1861,  were  received  by  Canada  farmers. 
To  understand  fully  the  resources  of  the  Canadas  in  this  particular, 
both  as  to  quantity  and  quality,  for  labor  or  other  purposes,  a  view 
of  the  well  stocked  farms,  with  their  swarms  of  horses,  oxen,  cows, 
sheep  and  hogs,  would  well  repay  a  visit  to  the  country,  to  those  skep- 
tical on  these  points,  or  to  see  the  excellent  beef,  mutton,  veal  and 
pork,  exposed  for  sale— unsurpassed  any  where  for  quality  and 
abundance.    Prices  vary  as  elsewhere,  according  to  demand,  but 


ordinarily  they  are  :  ■■*f^i^mm^^^i^'m    .  :-.^  ^-  .^^ 


♦Beef, 
^, Muttons 

Pork, 


5 
4 
6  and  6  " 


«<  i-:-^if>''i^f^i^m-^'i. 


(( 


:M 


m-' 


hii.W 


Again,  the  butter  and  cheese,  derived  directly  from  these  animals, 
must  be*  and  are,  superior,  from  the  nature  of  the  pasture  and  other 
food  eaten;  though,  from  the  circumstance  of  recent  settlement, 
means  cf  disposal  and  abundance,  matters  in  the  housewife's  depart- , 
ment  are  not  generally  so  thoroughly  conducted  as  in  more  populous 
and  older  settled  countries,  where  a  competition  of  tastes  and  judg- 
ment, in  managing  these  articles  and  arranging  for  the  market,  is 
freely  indulged.  The  comparative  cost  of  keeping  stock  is  little,  the 
summer  pastures  affording  ample  hr  that  season ;  in  winter,  many 
mark  their  horses,  and  turn  them  out  in  the  woodlands  and  open 

*Fric^  of  meat  are  not  nniform,  as  before  said,  and  owing  to  the  increased  demand 
prices  have  risen  very  recently,  to  the  ordinary  price  in  the  States.  That,  of  conrse, 
wiUnotbethB.nttehence£(»ih,batwill  be  determinedly  thesupply. 


14 


KOTSa  OF   OANADA   WEST. 


country,  wbero  they  never  fail  of  a  supply  of  roots  ahdi  git|iiM||. 
Numbers  are  seen  in  mid- winter,  looking  as  well  as  those  h/MMed  4P 
fed.  The  snow»  protect  the  grasses,  and  from  their  peculiar  length 
and  frequency,  animals  subsist  well  on  the  matter  they  are  thus  en- 
abled to  get  by  removing  them,  and  from  the  early  giowth  of  shrtdtw 
in  the  woods.  The  farms  generally,  have  chickens,  turkeys,  gees*, 
and  other  fowls,  in  great  numbers ;  and  they  meet  with  a  ready  sale 
-^prices  are  generally  for  poultry  twashtUings  and  two  and  siz-penc« 
the  pair,  when  in  great  plenty ;  eggs  10  cents  and  t3^  cents  the  doz^ 
en,  and  may  be  disposed  of  in  any  quantity  to  the  traders  without 
leaving  the  farm :  niunerous  hucksters  go<  in  all  directions  through  the 
country  to  purchase,  to  sell  again  in  the  large  cities.  In  the  winter, 
these  articles,  in  common  with  vegetables  and  other  commodities,  are 
often  sold  at  a  rate  that  in  the  United  States  would  be  called  higjby 
the  rapidly  increasing  population  making  the  ordinary  simply  insuf- 
ficient. Geese  uniformly  command  two  shillings ;  turkeys  one  dol-^ 
lar,  domesticated  or  wild.  There  is  an  abundance  of  game,  snd 
turkeys  meet  with  ready  sale.  Hunting  is  much  the  custom  of  all 
classes,  and  ducks,  squirrels,  (black,)  pigeons,  (^er,  hares,  quails,, 
pheasants,  and  other  game,  are  brought  down  in  great  nunkbers. 
Wild  animals  are  not  troublesome,  though  in  remote  districts,  an 
occasional  bear  or  wolf  is  seen ;  foxes  also*make  depredations  ^.ttones^ 
but  not  frequently. 


at  a 
ma) 
ace 
fan 


'A:.- 


Hat 


'H   >£l  i'X 


PmC^lS  OF  LAND  IN  THE  COUNTRY— CITY  PROPERTY,  &C. 

*"^e  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Toronto  and  to  the  eastward,  beihg 
thickly  settled,  (farms  being  advertised  "thirty  miles  on  Yonge 
street,")  the  price  of  property  is,  of  course,  very  much  higher  than 
in  the  western  districts^  City  property  varies  according  to  location — 
two  hundred  dollars  the  foot,  is  the  value  of  lots  in  good  position  in 
Toronto :  in  the  suburbs  very  fine  lots  may  be  had  at  reasonable 
rates.  Farms,  at  a  few  miles  distant,  range  from  thirty  to*  fifty  dol- 
lars the  acre— fifty  dollars  being  thought  a  fair  Jrice  for  the  best 
quality  of  land  with  improvements ;  but  in  the  western  districts,  farms 
may  be  bought  for  one  thousand  dollars,  superior  in  every  way,  to- 


«* 


JNOTSS   OF   CANADA   W.BBT. 


i 

hMned^gl 
iliar  length 
tre  thus  en- 
1  of  shrubs 
eys,  gees*, 
ready  8a]» 
i  six-peno» 
ts  the  doz- 
ers without 
irough  the 
^e  winter, 
xiities,  are 
«ed  high, 
)ply  insuf- 
's  one  dol- 
rame,  and 
torn  of  all 
>s,  quails,, 
nuinbers^ 
itriets,  an 
rattimes^ 


•di  t>eing 
s  Yonge 
lier  than 

■  ■  1  ». 

;ation->-» 
sition  m 
sonable 
%  dol- 

.■V'.-.- 

ihe  hest 
» farms 
yay,  to«^ 


16 

• 

fami9  near  the  city  of  Toronto,  that  are  hold  at  fire  thousand.     Im- 
WptlMli^iaBds,  near  Chatham,  London,  Hamilton,  and  other  towns 
Hmk,  mMil^e  bought  at  prices  varying  from  ten  up  to  one  hundred  : 
at  a  few  miles  distant,  uncleared  lands,  belonging  to  Government, 
may  be  had  by  paying  one  dellar  sixty -two  cents,  two,  and  two  fifty, 
according  to  locality — well  timbered  and  watered,  near  cultivated 
farms  on  the  river  and  lake  shore.     Thousands  of  acres,  of  the  very 
best  land  in  the  Provmce,  are  now  in  the  market  at  the  above  prices, 
and  either  in  the  interior,  or  weU  situated  as  to  prospect  from  the 
lakes,  and  near  excellent  markets.     The  land  i&  laid  out  in  what  are 
called  concessions,  these  concessions,  or  blocks,  being  sub-divided 
into  lots.    There  is,  therefore,  a  TLuiformity  of  aj^^earanoe  throughout 
in  the  farms,  and  no  contest  about  roads  4»n  individual  property  can 
result— the  roads  being  designed  to  benefit  equally  contiguous  prop* 
erty,  and  under  jurisdiction  of  "Government    One  hundred  acres  is 
the  swallest  quantity  to  be  had  of  Government,  but  individual  holders 
sell  in  quantities  to  suit  purchasers.    Large  quantities  of  land  are 
held  by  individuals,  though  at  a  higher  rate  generally  than  that  held 
by  Government ;  and  their  titles  are  ssdd  to  be  often  defective.    In 
every  respect,  the  preference  should  be  for  purchases  of  Government 
— ^land  is  cheaper,  as  well  situated,  and  below  a  specified  number  of 
acres,  may  not  be  bought ;  a  prohibition  of  advantage  to  many  who 
would  buy,  as  there  is  induced  a  spirit  of  enterprise  and  competition^ 
and  a  sense  of  responsibility.     Too  many  are  now  indepeitdenUy  drag- 
ging along  miserably,  on  the  few  acres,  ten,  twenty,  or  such  a  mat- 
ter, bought  at  the  high  rates  «f  individual  holders',  in  a  country  in 
which  the  prices  must,  fot  a  long  time,  require  more  land  in  process 
of  culture,  to  afford  a  comfortable  support.     There  is  every  induce- 
ment to  buy,  (near  or  in  towns,  as  well  as  in  the  country,  as  land  is 
cheap,  business  increasing,  with  the  steady  increase  of  population,  n^ 
lack  of  employment  at  fair  prices,  and  no  complexional  or  other  qucd- 
ification  in  ezisteaice.  - 

LABOBr-TRADES. 

In  Canada,  as  in  other  recently  settled  countries,  there  is  much  to 
*do,  and  comparatively  few  for  the  work.     The  numerous  to^T.;.i  and 


16 


aOTES   OF    CANADA   W£8T. 


villages  springing  tip,  and  the  great  demand  for  timber  and  aglicul' 
turul  products,  make  labor  of  every  kind  plenty  :  all  trades. Ihat  are 
practiced  in  tlie  United  States,  arc  there  patronized  by  y^tSff^o^j^ 
carried  on — no  man's  complexion  affecting  his  business.  If  a  colored 
man  understands  his  business,  he  receives  the  public  patronage  the 
same  as  a  white  man.  He  is  not  obliged  to  work  a  little  better,  and 
at  a  lower  rate — there  is  no  degraded  class  to  identify  him  with, 
therefore  every  man's  work  stands  or  falls  according  to  merit,  not  as 
is  his  color.  Builders,  and  other  tradesmen,  of  different  complexions, 
work  together  on  the  same  building  and  in  the  same  shop,  with  per- 
fect harmony,  and  often  the  proprietor  of  an  establishment  is  colored, 
and  the  majority  or  all  of  the  men  employed  are  white.  Businesses 
that  in  older  communities  have  ceased  to  remunerate,  yield  a  large 
per  centage  to  the  money  invested. 

The  mineral  resources  of  the  Canadas  not  being  developed,  to  any 
extent,  for  fuel  wood  is  generally  used,  and  a  profitable  trade  in  that 
commodity  is  carried  on ;  and  besides  lumber  for  buildings,  the  get- 
ting out  of  materials  for  staves,  coopers'  stuff,  and  various  purposes, 
affords  steady  employment  and  at  fair  prices,  for  cash.  This  state  of 
things  must  increase,  and  assume  more  importance  in  Canada  mar- 
kets, as  the  increasing  population  of  the  western  United  States  bum 
and  otherwise  appropriate  their  timber.  Kailroads  are  in  process  of 
construction — steamboats  now  ply  between  Toronto  and  the  several 
towns  on  the  lakes  ;  and  in  process  of  time,  iron  and  other  works  will 
be  in  operation,  it  is  said,  all  requiring  their  quota,  and  of  course 
keeping  up  the  demand.  Bbards  for  home  and,  foreign  markets,  are 
successfully  manufactured,  and  numerous  mill-sites  are  fast  being 
appropriated  to  saw  and  grist  mills.  In  some  sections,  colored  men 
are  engaged  in  saw  mills  on  their  own  account.  At  Dawn,  a  settle* 
ment  on  the  Suydenham,  (of  which  hereafter,)  and  at  other  points, 
this  tradfe  is  prosecuted  with  profit  to  them.  To  enumerate  the  dif- 
ferent occupations  in  which  colored  persons  are  engaged,  even  in 
detail,  would  but  fatigue,  and  would  not  further  the  end  in  view, 
namely :  To  set  forth  the  advantage  of  a  residence  in  a  country,  in 
which  chattel  slavery  is  not  tolerated,  and  prejudice  of  colw  has  no 


1 


■^-rt:^.'***  •^"'*<*^' ' 


and  Agrienl- 

If  a  colored 
atronage  the 
>  better,  and 
y  him  with, 
nerit,  not  as 
omplexions, 
>»  with  per- 
is colored. 
Businesses 
sM  a  large 

5ed,  to  any 
ade  in  that 
s,  the  get- 
purposes, 
(lis  state  of 
nada  mar- 
ates  bum 
process  of 
©  several 
rorks  will 
3f  course 
•tets,  are 
«t  being 
>i*ed  men 
a  settle- 
f  points, 
the  dif- 
even  in 
in  view, 
ntry,  in 
has  no 


KOTES   OF    CANADA   WEST. 


17 


exUtence  vlHitcver — the  adaptation  of  tlmt  countr}%  by  climate,  soil, 
and  politiw character,  to  their  pliysical  and  political  necessities  ;  and 
.,i^iy||i|dpny  of  a  residence  there  over  their  present  position  at  kome. 
It  will  sufficie,  that  colored  men  prosecute  all  the  different  trades  ;  are 
store  keepers,  farmers-,  clerks,  and  laborers  ;  and  are  not  only  unmo- 
lested, but  sustained  and  encouraged  in  any  business  for  Avhich  their 
qualifications  and  means  fit  them  ;  and  as  the  resources  of  the  coun- 
try develop,  new  fields  of  enterprise  will  be  opened  to  them,  and 
•consequently  new  motives  to  honorable  effort. 

CHURCHES— SCHOOLS . 

In  the  large  towns  and  cities,  as  in  similar  communities  in  other 
Christian  countries,  the  means  for  religious  instruction  are  ample. 
There  are  "Costly  churches  in  which  all  classes  and  complexions  wor- 
ship, and  no  **  negro  pew,"  or  other  seat  for  colored  persons,  espe- 
cially.   I  was  forcibly  struck,  when  at  Toronto,  with  the  contrast  the 
religious  community  there  presented,  to  our  own  larg^^  body  of  Ame- 
rican Christians.    In  the  churches,  originally  built  by  the  white  Ca- 
nadians, the  presence  of  colored  persons,  promiscuously  seated, 
elicited  no  comment  whatever.    They  are  members,  and  visitors,  and 
as  such  have  their  pews  according  to  their  inclination,  near  the  door, 
or  remote,  or  central,  as  best  suits  them.    The  number  of  colored 
persons,  attending  the  churches  with  whites,  constitutes  a  minority,  I 
think.    They  have  their  *'  own  churches/'     That  that  is  the  feature 
in  their  policy,  which  is  productive  of  mischief  to  the  entire  body,  is 
evident  enough ;  and  the  opinion  of  the  best  informed  and  most  in- 
fluential among  them,  in  Toronto  and  the  large  towns,  is  decided  and 
universal.    I  have  heard  men  of  many  years  residence,  and  who 
have,  in  a  measure,  been  moulded  by  the  better  sentiment  of  society, 
express  deep'sorrow  at  the  Course  of  colored  persons,  in  pertinaciously 
refusing  overtures  of  religious  fellowship  from  the  whites ;  and  in  the 
face  of  all  experience  to  the  contrary,  erecting  Colored  Methodist, 
and  Baptist,  and  other  Churches.     This  opinion  obtains  aii^ojgst 
many  who,  when  in  the  United  States,  were  connected  with  colored 
churches.    Aside  from  their  caste  character,  their  influence  on  the 
3     . 


'm'ij 


wl 


<  . 


NOTES   OF    OANAnA   WEST. 


li 


■■ 


'II 


»   '■ 


inOnii- 

9m 


stored  people  ib  fatal.  The  chak'acterof  the  exclusive  ol 
rla  tends  to  perpetuate  ignorance,  both  of  their  true  posit 
Hiibjects,  and  of  the  Christian  religion  in  its  purity.  If 
to  observe  thoughtfully  tlie  workings  of  that  incipient 
Canadian  African  Church,  of  whatever  denotfiination, )  in  its  present 
ittiperfect  state,  without  seriously  regretting  that  it  should  have  been 
thought  njBcessary  to  call  it  into  existence.  In  her  bosom  is  nurtured 
the  long-standing  and  rankling  prejudices,  and  hatred  against  whites, 
Avithout  exception,  that  had  their  origin  in  American  oppression,  and 
that  should  have  been  left  in  the  country  in  which  they  originated — 
'tis  that  species  of  animosity  that  is  not  bounded  by  geographical 
lines,  nor  suffers  discrimination. 

A  goodly  portion  of  the  people  in  the  western  part  of  the  Province, 
(for  there  are  but  few  in  the  eastern,)  are  enjoying  superior  religious 
opportunities,  but  the  majority  greatly  need  active  missionary  efiort : 
first,  to  teach  them  love  to  their  neighbor ;  and.  again,  to  give  them 
an  intelligent  and  correct  understanding  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures. 
The  missionary  strength,  at  present,  consists  of  but  six  preachers — 
;§etdv«  and  efficient  gentlemen,  all  of  them,  and  self-sacrificing  in  the 
last  degree ;  and  several  women  engaged  in  teaching,  under  the  same 
^fyi^spices.    Much  privation,  suffering,  opposition,  and  aorrow  await 
/l^e  Kiissibnaiy  in  that  field.    If  it  were  possible^  for  him  to  foresee 
lifdat  is  in  store  f6r  him  there,  a  mission  to  India,  or  the  South  Sea 
Islands,  would  be  preferable ;  for,  in  that  case,  the  sympathy  of  the 
.^^t\e,  community  is  enlisted,  and  his  sojourn  is  made  as  pleaisant  as 
j^ssibie — the  people  to  whom  he  is  sent,  are  either  as  little  children, 
^ipapliB  apd  confiding,  or  out-right  savages  ;  and  in  that  case,  deadly 
tHlveinies.     In  this  less  remote  field — almost  in  speaking  distance — 
]|t<l^lect  from  friends,  suspicion,  abuse,  misrepresentation,  and  a  de- 
grading surveillance,  often  of  serious  and  abiding  Consequences, 
await  h|m.     Not  directly  from  the  fagitives— chose  designed  prima- 
rily to  be  benefitted — may  assaults  be  looked  for,  at  first.     They  po$- 
_»em  Sk^site  for  the  light,  and  incline  to  cluster  around  the  missionary 
invaiiably.     There  are  those  who  pretend  to  have  been  enlightened, 
aiMi.tohav«  M  heart  the  common  good,  whose  in fiuence  and  opera- 


KUTKS  OF   CANADA   WJMT. 


1^ 


m<3ihg< 


•lent  ZionT^fthe 
)  in  its  present 
lould  have  been 
'som  is  nurtured 
against  whites, 
oppression,  and 
ey  originated— 
)y  geographical 

•f  the  Province, 
perior  religious 
ssionaryeflfeit; 
»  to  give  them 
red  Scriptupes. 
IX  preachers— 
crificing  in  the 
'^der  the  same 
sorrow  await 
lim  to  foresee 
^e  South  Sea 
'P*thy  of  tht^ 
«  pleasant  as 
ttle  child^ien, 
case,  deadJr 
r  distance — 
»»  and  a  de- 
nsequenoes, 
fneii  prima  ~ 
Ttey  po^. 

wissionaRf 
a%htened. 
and  opera« 


tioQ^y  he  ifflpAnd  designedly  counteracting  his  couHcientiuas  eflforU, 
irely  appealing  to  a  common  origin  and  kindred  suffer* 
striking  behind,  aad  bringing  his  character  as  a  mistrion* 
onary,  and  his. operations,  into  discredit  in  the  eyes  of  a  sympathiiing 
Christian  conuMuoity.  This,  and  more,  awaits  those  who  nay  be  called 
to  the  field ;  i)vd  the  case  is  not  a  hopeless  ose.  The  native  good  sense 
oft  he  fi^itives,  backed  by  proper  schools,  will  eventually  develop  the 
ireat  character  of  their  operations  and  sacrifices.  They  and  their 
t'ami£esv.  of  all  others,  should  have  the  support  of  Christians. 

The  lefugees  express  a  strong  desire  for  inteUectnal  culture,  and 
persons  often  beg^l  their  education  at  a  time  of  life  when  many  in 
other  eountries  think  they  ace  too  old.  There  are  no  separate  schoohi: 
at  Toronto  and  in  many  other  places,  as  in  the  churches,  the  colored 
people  avail  themselves  of  existing  schools ;  bui  in  the  western  coun- 
try, in  some  sections,  thei-e  is  a  tendency  to>  f'cxclasiveness."  The 
colored  people  of  that  section  petitioned,  when  the  Schod  Law  was 
under  revision,  that  they  might  have  separate  schools :  there  were 
counter  petitions  hy  those  opposed,  and  tO'  satisfy  all  parties,  twelve 
freeholders  among  them,  can,  by  following  a  prescribed  form,  demand 
a  school  ^or  their  children ;  but  if  other  schools,  under  patronage  of 
Government,  exist,  (as  Catholic  or  Protestant,)  they  can  cliemaiid 
admission  into  them,  if  they  have  not  one.  They  are  not  compelled 
to  hare  a  colored  sehool.  The  following  is  that  portion  of  the  School, 
law  that  directly  reliates  to  them  :. 

"And  be  it  enacted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  l|umoil{)i^> 
Council  of  ai^y  township,  and  of  the  Board  of  School  Trustees  olfi^f 
city,  town  or  i^C)p)orated  village,  on  th^  application  in  wftlwg  0f 
twelve  or  more  remdent  heads  of  families,  to  authorise  the  e8||Mi||i- 
me|it  of  one  or  more  separate  schook  for  Protestants,  Boipm  Q(i#^ 
lies  or  (Bolor^  people,  and,  in  such  case,  it  shall  prescribe  th#  lii^inl 
the  divisions  or  actions  for  such  school,  and  shfill  ms^  ^^  sa^^ 
proyisions  for  the  holing  of  the  first  meeting  for  the;elec<«Qn|Of  Tfm- 
tee^  of  each  suph  separate  school  or  schools,  as  is  pm^^^^  in  tlie 
fourth  section  of  this  Act  for  holding  th6  fira^t  school  meMiog  in  a  new 
scho<>l  section  :    Provided  always,  th»^e?ich  6epar|kt(|j  «j)iool  sha^go 


<■  !>!<■  i»wi   i'ii»<B^i>a" 


N0TI8   or   CANADA    \yj£8T. 

into  operation  at  the  same  time  with  alterations  in  Hchooi 
shall  be  under  the  same  regttlations  in  respect  to  tht 
whom  such  school  is  permitted  to  bo  established,  as  a1 
schools  generally  :  Provided,  secondly,  tliat  none  but  c(  lore'!  •^'=?oplo 
shall  be  allowed  to  vote  for  tlie  election  of  Trustees  cX  iiie  eparate 
school  for  their  children,  and  none  but  the  parties  petitioBing  for  tho 
establishment  of,  or  sending  children  to  a  separate  i^rotestant  or  Ro- 
maii  Catholic  school,  shall  vote  at  the  election  of  Truste<s ff  such 
schools :  Provided,  thirdly,  that  eacli  separate  Protestant,  or  Roman 
Oatholic,  or  colored  school,  shall  be  entitled  to  share  in  the  school 
fund  according  to  the  av;^-  go  attendance  of  pupils  attending  each 
such  separate  school,  (the  n>ean  attendance  of  pupils  for  both  sum- 
mer and  winter  being  taken, )  as  compared  with  tho  average  attend- 
ance of  pupils  attending  the  common  schools  in  such  city,  town,  vil- 
lage or  township :  Provided,  fourthly,  that  no  Protestant  separate 
"chool  shall  be  allowed  in  any  school  division,  except  when  the 
teacher  of  the  common  school  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  nor  shall  any  Ro- 
man  Catholic  separate  school  be  allowed  ci^jcpt  \v>.on  the  teacher  of 
the  common  school  is  a  Protestant." 

Afl  before  said,  the  facilities  for  obtaining  a  liberal  education,  are 
ami>^«  in  the  larg^  towns  and  cities.  In  Toronto,  students  of  all 
com|  i'^arions  associate  together,  in  the  better  class  schools  and  colle- 
ges, 7b<:  o^=jratioi»  of  missionaries  being  chiefly  among  colored, 
pecp'iv;;,  thty  haveeiiablished  several  schools  in  connection  with  their 
laboc  J,  yei.  they  are  open  to  children  without  exception.  The  colored 
o^iiiliAon  schools  have  more  of  a  compknonal  character  than  the  pri- 
vile,  id^iiefa,  with  no  exception  that  I  have  heard  of,  are  open  to  all; 
Tti#  Aet  of  Parliament  above  refert^  to,  was  designed  to  afford  the 
IttlfesSt  and  ttiost  equable  facilitieis  for  instruction  to  all,  and  that  par- 
tiottlir  clause  was  insei>ted  with  the  view  to  satisfy  them,  though  less 
.iol)jeel^onablerto'the  body  of  them,  than  what  they  asked  for. 

<^l  fugitives,  in  some  instances,  settled  on  Government  land  be- 
^Mri  it  came  into  market,  cleared  away  and  improved  it.  Their  friends 
eHfliHUshed  schools  which  were  flourishing,  when  they  were  obliged  to 
tip,  and  the|NK>pleto  disperse,  because  of  inability  to  purchase 


iona,  and 


NOTEB    OF   CANADA    WK»T. 


tf 


U; 


C(  !or*"'    ^oplo 
r  the  'Cparate 
m'mg  for  tlio 
testant  or  Ro- 
iiste<'s  f'f  such 
mt,  or  Homan 
in  the  school 
ttending  each 
for  both  sum- 
'erage  attcnd- 
ity,  town,  vil- 
itant  separate 
ipt  when  the 
shall  any  Ro- 
he  teacher  of 

iducation,  are 
udents  of  all 
ols  and  coUe- 
nong  colored, 
on  with  their 

The  colored 
than  the  pri- 

open  to  all; 
to  afford  the 
nd  that  par- 

though  less 
or. 

ent  land  be- 

rheir  friends 

re  obliged  to 

to  purchase 


i;  I  ether  Jlons  buying.     This  cause  luis,  in  a  rrraKMrc',  rc-tnrdeift 

jjjllllljJMpgeneral  informutiun  amongst  tlu'm. 
|g3Hp|K,  twenty  or  jnoro  families  arc  often  settled  near  on(^  an- 
other, or  interspersed  among  the  French,  Dutch,  fcjcotcb,  Irish  and 
Indians,  in  the  woodland   districts:  often,  English   is  not  spoken. 
There  may  not  bo  an  EngJish  school,  and  all  rcA  el  Ujgether  in  happy 
ignorance.     Nothing  but  the   sound  of  the  nxe,  ;  iwl  their  own  crude 
ideas  of  independence,  to  inspire  them,  unless  it  .>e  an  Indian  camp 
tire  occasionally.     This  may  be  rather  an  uninvitin  ;  state  of  aflfairs  to 
tliose  living  in  crowded  cities,  but  it  is  true  there  arc  numerous  grown 
up  families,  of  white  and  colored,  who  do  not  know  1'     But  as  uninter- 
esting as  is  the  detail,  in  this  particular  aspect  of  rhisc  affairs,  t^io 
signs  are  encouraging.     If  they  went  to  labor  honenily,  in  a  region 
semi-barbarous,  tliey  have   eut  their  way  out,  and  are  now  able  to^ 
make  themselves  heard  in  a  demand  for  religious  in^  ructors  of  the 
right  kind,  and  schools.     Many  efficient  persons  have  devoted  their 
time  and  talents  to  their  instruction,  but  there  has  not  been  anything 
like  an  equal  number  to  the  work  :  neither  are  they  often  found  to 
have  materials  to  work  with.     Individuals  in  the  United  States  often 
send  books  to  those  most  needy,  yet  they  are  usually  of  sueh  a  char- 
acter as  to  be  utterly  useless.  I  have  often  thought,  if  it  is  really  a  bene- 
volent act  w  send  old  almanacs,  old  novels,  and  all  manjior  of  obsolete 
bouks  to  them,  what  good  purpose  was  accomplished,  o*  even  what 
sort  of  vanity  was  grtitilSed,  by  emptying  the  useless  <ionteiit8  of  old 
libraries  on  destitute  fugitives  ?    It  would  be  infinftefy  better  not  id^ 
give,  dt  seems,  though  probably  persons  sending  thend  thitik  ctifilKl^- 
entiy.    The  case  is  aggravated  from  the  feet  of  a  real  de8i!^^f:6)ai  tfei 
part  of  the  recipients,  to  learn,  and  their  formei'  want  of  oppot^ify. 
Probably  the  propensity  to  give  is  gratified  j  but  why  not  give/wh^eh 
^fta  are  needed,  of  that  which  is  uteftfl  ?    Bbt  the  c[ae8t!on;  If  it  w 
answering  any  good  purpose  to  give  such  things  as  "books  ^veii,1Ml 
«ot  been  satisfactorily  answered  in  the  affirmative,  to  ^rioi^  who 
hare  seen  <ihe  fugitiiires  ii>  their  Canadian  holmes/ 


i^ 


i; 


'   M 


I 


!    P 


\     ? 


■I 


li 


il  f ' 


Is 


h 


22 


KOTBS   OF  CANADA    WEST. 


SETTLEMENTS,— DAWN,—  ELGIN,—  INSTITUTION,— FU( 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  Canada  colored  settlemei 
liave  been  expressed  by  many,  that  by  cncouragiog 
ments,  the  attempt  to  identify  colored  men  with  degraded  men  of 
like  color  in  the  States  would  result,  and  as  a  conSeC|tienee,  estrange- 
ment, suspicion,  and  distrust  would  be  induced.  Such  would  inevita- 
bly be  the  result,  and  w^ill  be,  shall  they  determine  to  have  entirely 
proscriptive  settlements.  Those  in  existence,  so  far  as  I  h^-ve  been 
able  to  get  at  facts,  do  not  exclude  whites  from  their  vicinity ;  bat 
that  settlements  may  not  be  established  of  that  character,  is  not  so 
certain.  Dawn,  on  the  Siiydenhara  river,  Elgin,  or  King's  Settle- 
ment, as  it  is  called,  situated  about  ten  miles  from  C^iatham,  are 
settlements  in  which  there  are  regulations  in  regard  to  morals,  the 
purchase  of  lands,  etc.,  bearing  only  on  the  colored  people ;  but 
whites  are  not  excluded  because  of  dislike.  When  purchase  was 
made  of  the  lands,  many  white  families  were  residents, — at  least,  lo- 
cations were  not  selected  in  which  none  resided.  At  first,  a  few  sold 
out,  fearii|g  that  such  neighbors  might  not  be  agreeable  ;  others,  and 
they  the  majority,  concluded  to  remain,  and  the  result  attests  their 
superior  judgment.  Instead  of  an  increase  of  vice,  prejudice,  im- 
providence, laziness,  or  a  lack  of  energy,  that  many  feared  would 
ch9ff|cterize  them,  the  infrequency  of  violations  of  law  among  so 
many,  is  unprecedented ;  due  attention  to  moral  and  intellectual 
culture  has  been  given  ;  the  former  prejudices  on  the  part  of  ike 
whites^  has  given  place  to  a  perfect  reciprocity  of  religious  and  social 
iAteroomiiiunieati(m.  Schools  are  patronized  equally ;  the  gospel 
is  common,  and  hospitality  is  shared  alike  by  all.  The  school  for 
tliQ^ettiers,  fit  Elgin,  is  so  far  superior  to  the  one  established  for  white 
cjhijblrenr  that  the  latter  was  discontinued,  and,  as  before  said,  all  send 
together,  and  visit  in  common  thie  Presbyterian  church,  ther€  estsb*; 
U^d. ,  Soof  Pawn  ;  thftt  settlement  is  exceedingly  flourishing,  and 
%\^  moiral  influence  it  exerts  is  good,  though,  owing  to  some  recent 
arrangeinents,  regulations  designed  to  further  promote  its  importance 
are  being  made.  Land  has  increased  in  value  in  those  settlements. 
.f*fbpei'ty  that  was  worth  but  little,  from  the  superior-  culture  given 


be 


% 


NOTSfi   OF    CANADA   WEST*. 


S3 


I  J)y  colored! 
creftsing  di 


fmaded  men  of 
nee,  estrange-  -I 
"ouW  inevita- 
Bare  entirely 

I  h^vebeen 
vicinity;  bnt 
^r,  ia  not  so 
Jng*8  Settfe- 
-"hatbam,  are 
>  morals,  the 
people;  but 
»Qrchase  was 
-at  least,  lo- 
*»  a  few  sold 
others,  and 
attests  their 
Bjudice,im- 
ared  would 
among  so 
intellectual 
art  of  the 
and  social 
he  gospel 
school  for 
[  for  white 
U  all  send 
Jre  estab- 
hiiig,and 
►e  recent 
poftance 
fements. 
fe  given 


sons  over  the  method  before  practiced,  nn^thein* 
es  for  country  homes,  is  held  much  higher.    Another 
rth  a  passing  notice,  is,  that  a  spirit  of  competition  is 
eir  vicinity.    Efforts  are  now  put  forth  to  produce  more 
to  the  acre^  aind  to  have  the  land  and  tenements  present  a  tidy  appear*^ 
ance.    That  others  than  those  designed  to  be  benefitted  by  the  or- 
gaaizatiosn,  should  be,  is  not  reasonable,  else  might  persons,  not  meHi- 
bers  of  a  society  justly  claim  equal  benefits  with  members.    If  Irish- 
men should  subscribe  to  certa^  regulations  on  purchasing  laDid,  no 
neighboring  landholders  could  rightfully  share  with  them  in  the  re- 
sult of  that  organization.     But  prejudice  would  not  be  the  cause  of 
<exc}usioh.     Bo  it  is  of  those  two  settlements;  it  cannot  be  said  of 
them,  that  they  are  caste  institutions,  so  long  as  they  do  not  express 
liostility  to  the  whites.;  but  the  question  of  their  necessity  hi  tlie 
prelnises  may  be  raised,  and  often  is,  by  the  settlens  in  Canadi%i 
well  as  in  the  States.    The  "Institution"  is  a  settlement  Under  the  iB^ 
i^ectiion  of  the  A.  M.  E.  Church ;  it  contains,  at  present,  two  hundred 
acres^  and  is  soM  out  in  ten  acre  faims,  at  one  dollar  arid  fiffy  cents 
per  acne,  or  one  shilling  less  than  cost.    They  have  recently  opened 
a  school,  and  there  is  a  log  meeting  house  in  an  unfinished  state,  also 
a  bullying  ground.    There  aro  about  fifteen  families  settled  on  the 
land,  most  of  whom  have  cleared  away  a  few  trees,  but  it  is  not  in  a  very 
proq»erous  condition,  owing,  it  is  said,  to  bad  management  of  ageiitS'— 
a  result  to  be  looked  fbr  when  a  want  of  knowledge  chirai^teris^ 
them.    This  "Institution"  bids  fair  to  be  one. nucleus  around  wbi<^ 


.#' 


easte  settlements  will  cluster  in  Canada. 

The  Refugees'  Home  is  the  last  of  the  settlements  of  W^Q^IitittJ^ 
speak  in  liiiflLplace.  How  many  othei^are  in  contemplAtio#t  dii  fi&t 
knotr,  thdifpi  I  heard  of  at  least  two  others.  Thi$  Sodet^'  i«  de« 
signed  to  appropriate  fifty  thousand  (wie^  of  land  for  fugftlv«ii  $nm 
slavery,  iinli^,  but  at  piesent  the  agents  have  in  posseseiioii  tWoliiiliiM 
a^res,  situated  about  eight  miles  from  Windsor/^  il»e  w%it«[^#si- 
(rict.  The  plan  is  to  sell  faims  of  twenty-five  acreft/^»t  i»«<<i  gfvii 
five  acres  to  actual  settlers,  with  the  privilege  of  buying  Ifcft 
ing  twenty  ?*3re8,  at  the  market  valuf — -vhe-tlwrd  of  the  ptireha^m 


(pllp'»*wf^»'''?^'" 


'W 


H  /  j 


24 


SOTES   OP   CANADA    WEST. 


eonstitntcs  a  fund  for  school  a„H  .m  * 

fen  to  pay  for  the  t.ent;  L"  3  w"  """'i'""  '^  "%"  ^^^  "^ 

Wis.society  may  now  be  coS L       ""  "'^'"' ™«l««U-»-I.te. 

^purchase,  though,  as  yet  nn       t       "'""""""^  "'l^ltolie 

*»  be  looked  for  fr  „    rk'T  '^' ^''«"'<' "-"eo".  a*SllHE 

^i"  have  an  -portant;eX  ;:?';' ^^ '*'''  ''^  "P-"-' 
-Wed  in^  Canada,  or  who  Z^^aJ  ^"^  P-P'«  'J"-  -  now 

-eiety.  actuated  by  benevolent  11^1'";    "'^^^O-^'-e 
*".  oppression  and  the  odious  Fu^Zr  '""""'  "^  ^'^'"' 

-«ccc«,<,f  the  »,asu«,  but  not  so  unter^";  ::""»"""  "*°  «■* 
*ven  among  those  designed  to  be  ZZT^      ''^""'^''^^^''>'' 

*-'  ^"^  »"«  a<iia,  onl  :?lr:^t: Vr  ^"^  '*'^'* 
laown  th«  the  Fugitive  BiU  mates  HT    '"*S"'»d«-    »  is  well 

•      »«..^hose^  are  aUke  at  tt  ^^  o^- ""^  "°'«"™  -'-<• 
q»e»tly.many  always  free^^lM         ?"*"'  «'««J'.-««.se- 

««e  in  Canada,  and  other  cl»n^^',l  *'•''''''*  ^"''«'J  States,  «d 

"otthat  1.^  b^n  enacten:  Z  T""""''  ""  ""*'-"««' 
<=oiowatio„  influence  prevails,  they  wi?  '^'^^^^.  or  wB.« 
amvc in  Canada  destitute,  in cowZr  1  *'"  ""'"''''«'  ""ey 
^dpfib.  Refugees'  Home  frl  th^^  '  ""^"■°'  ^"'"o-  «■« 
-ieuitiswellbfown  th J^^  iTw  ""'?'  "^ -minal f„edom, 

:f *»-^  labor  whe:;;:::7b;:tsT*«  ^'^"'"'  ■"• 

'n^peouam^  way,  that  colored  men  have  „  .  "PPOrtMities, 

Agam,  the  poMcy  of  slaveholders  has  been"  '"  '"'"« ^"""""^ "O'"". 
/««  pople  in  the  bosom  of  tb«,  «i  '''**^  *  contempt  for 

*6y*.Sp^y.    Their  journey  to  cZ;,™''r"^'''^«'''"''%  have 

%v«.  is  ge^^rally  "Lad  by  otrd  '"""'"'^  birth,  «  free  or 
P^r^^.  his  better  ^d  ^'£7^'""'  '''•""  "«  - 
«»«».  ««mbe^  of  tbcsame  familyT  "     TT    '''"•^'  *«-'" 

•^Wari.  ,Agai«,  the  Zi.ty  w  h  It  ^  T'^  '""'^  "  ""'  '^^'r 

"♦»  readjr,„«b.,for  itsJands  will  not  !l.  T^      ^'^''''  ■"*"' ''"'» 
,    ::      *"  '  *'"  "»'  "'"'«  goverament  purchases, 


_Jk|ua*v,^ 


.'*','.  «v*aBwi!T^'^-  ■  ^ 


♦ 


KOTfiS   OF    CANADA   W&ST. 


26 


pn  years  ar^ 


^^  operations, 
^ho  are  now 
frieads  of  the 
n»s  of  Ameri- 
"j»e  as  to  the 
>nia!it8favoy, 
all  the  objec- 
good  ag^aiBst 
i'  k  weJI 
hem  eolored 
*th,--*eoase- 
States,  aad 
naained  had 
'S,  or  where 
rifice;  they 

ettleonthe 
*1  freedom, 
Isgrace  at* 
'ortunities^ 
ions  north, 
itemptfor 
^^^y  have 
ot  rooted 
w  free  or 
ot  be  as 
discord 
1  made, 
>t  likely 

in  the 
n,  with 
bases ; 


'm 


neither  dcMK  contemplate  large  blocks,  exclusively,  but,  as  in  the 
rst  purchiip  land,  wherever  found,  and  in  small  parcels  also.  From 
nature  of  the  many  settlements,  (as  fugitive  homes,) 
enTr*s!iall  be  known  for  what  use  it  is  wanted,  individual  holders 
will  not  sell  but  for  more  than  the  real  value,  thus  embarrassing  poor 
men  who  would  have  bought  on  time,  and  as  an  able  pwchaser  from 
government,  the  society  must  have  a  first  choice.  The  objections 
in  common  with  other  settlements,  are :  the  individual  supervision  of 
resident  agents,  and  the  premium  indirectly  oflfered  for  good  beha- 
vior. **We  are  free  men,"  say  they  who  advocate  independent  ejQfort, 
** we,  as  other  subjects,  are  amenable  to  British  laws  ;  we  vish  to 
observe  and  appropriate  to  ourselves,  ourselves,  whatever  of  good 
there  is  in  the  society  around  us,  and  by  our  individual  efforts,  to  at- 
tain to  a  respectable  position,  as  do  the  many  foreigners  who  land  on 
the  Canada  shores,  as  poor  in  purse  as  we  were  ;  and  we  do  not  w^irt 
agents  to  beg  for  us."  The  accompanying  are  articles  in  the  Con- 
stitutions .'  «  1  >,.M  <  fi;'.^_f"i;' Tti.jjr- -■.  ./  '.Wf?(w.'«V*/  ■if.^%^ 

Article  2.  The  object  of  this  society  shall  be  to  obtain  permanent 
homes  for  the  refugees  in  Canada,  and  to"  promote  their  moral,  so- 
cial, physical,  intellectual,  and  political  elevation. 

Article  11.  This  society  shall  not  deed  lands  to  any  but  actual 
settlers,  who  are  refugees  from  southern  slavery,  and  who  are  the 
owners  of  no  land.  • 

Article  12.     All  lands  purchased  by  this  society,  shall  be  divided 
into  twenty-five  acre  lots,  or  as  near  as  possible,  and  at  least  one-tenth 
of  the  purchase  price  of  which  shall  be  paid  down  by  actual'sMer^ 
before  possession  is  given,  and  the  balance  to  be  paid  in  equal  annual 
instalments.  i^m^'M*.: 

Article  13.  One-third  of  all  money  paid  in  for  land  by  settlers, 
shall  be  used  for  educational  purposes,  for  the  benefit  of  said  settlers* 
children,  and  the  other  two-thirds  for  the  purchase  of  more  lands  for 
the  same  object,  while  chattel  slavery  exists  in  the  United  States. 

BY-LAWS. 

No  person  shall  receive  more  than  five  acres  of  land  from  this  so: 
ciety,  at  less  than  cost.  , 


ft' 


26 


MOTBS   OF   CANADA   WEST;- 


•tp: 


'■    I' 


( 


Article  4.  No  person  shall  be  allowed  to  remove  anj^limber  from 
said  land  until  the  j  have  first  made  payment  thereon. 

These  are  the  articles  of  most  importance,  and,  as  will 
contemplate  more  than  fifty  thousand  acres  continual  purcEases, 
slavery  shall  cease  ;  and  other  terms,  as  will  be  seen  by  Art.  13  of 
Con.,  and  Art.  4,  By-Laws,  than  most  fugitives  just  from  slavery  can 
comply  with,  (as  destitute  women  with  families,  old  men,  and  single 
women,)  until  after  partial  familiarity  with  their  adopted  country. 
This,  say  many  colored  Canadians,  begins  not  to  benefit  until  a  man 
has  proven  his  ability  to  act  without  aid,  ^nd  is  fit  for  political  equal- 
ity by  his  own  industry,  that  money  will  get  for  him  at  any  time.  * 

POLITICAL  RIGHTS— ELECTION  LAW—OATH— CURRENCY. 

There  is  no  legal  discrimination  wl)atever  effecting  colored  emi- 
grants in  Canada,  nor  from  any  cause  whatever  are  their  privileges 
sought  to  be  abridged.  On  taking  proper  measures,  the  most  ample 
redress  can  be  obtained.  The  following  "  abstracts  of  acts,"  bearing 
equally  on  all,  and  observed  fully  by  colored  men  qualified,  will  give 
an  idea  of  the  measures  given  them  :* 

"  The  qualifications  of  voters  at  municipal  elections  in  townships, 
are  freeholders  and  householders  of  the  township  or  ward,  entered 
on  the  roll  for  rateable  real  property,  in  their  own  right  or  that  of 
their  wives,  as  proprietors  or  tenants,  and  resident  at  the  time  in  the 
township  or  ward." 

"  In  towns,  freeholders  and  householders  for  rateable  real  property 
!n  tbdr  own  rames  or  that  of  their  wives,  as  proprietors  or  tenants  to 
the  amount  of  £5  per  annum  or  upwards,  resident  at  the  time  in  the 
ward.  The  property  qualification  of  town  voters  may  consist  partly 
of  freehold  and  partly  of  leasehold." 

In  villages  it  is  £3  and  upwards,  with  freehold  or  leasehold  ;  in 
cities  £,Z. 

The  Ittws  regulating,  elections,  and  relating  to  electors,  are  not 
^»milar  in  the  two  Canadas ;  but  colored  persons  are  not  affected  by 

mk  more  than  others. 


'^Scobies'  Casadian  Almanac  for  1653. 


NOTES   OF    CANADA   WEST. 


£7 


urchaees, 
y  Art.  13  of 
sl&Tery  can 
k»  and  single 
ed  country, 
until  a  man 
tical  equal- 
^  time.  ■ 

3NCY. 

►lored  emi- 
privileges 
Qost  ample 
/*  bearing 
U  "will  give 

ownships, 
I.  entered 
r  that  of 
3Ae  in  the 

property 
enants  to 
le  in  the 
»t  partly- 
old  ;  in 

are  not 
ted  by 


«  No  p9iM|  )3ball  be  entitled  to  vote  at  county  elections,  wf  o  has 
not  vested^MPhim,  by  legal  title,  real  property  in  said  county  of  the 
4^l^l^yg||rl|  value  of  forty-four  shillings  and  five  pence  and  one  far- 


g,  currency.  Title  to  be  in  fee  simple  or  freehold  under  tenure  of 
free  and  common  soccage,  or  in  Jief  in  raiure,  or  in  f  ram  alien,  or  de- 
rived from  the  Governor  and  Council  of  the  late  Province  of  Quebec, 
or  Act  of  Parliament'  Qualification,  to  be  effective,  requires  actual 
and  uninterrupted  possession  on  the  part  of  the  elector,  or  that  he 
should  have  been  in  receipt  of  the  rents  and  profits  of  said  property 
for  his  own  use  and  benefit  at  least  six  months  before  the  date  of  the 
writ  of  election.  But  the  title  will  be  good  without  such  anterior  pos- 
session, if  the  property  shall  have  come  by  inheritance,  devis3,  mar*' 
riage  or  contract  of  marriage,  and  also  if  the  deed  or  patent  from  the 
Crown  on  which  he  holds  to  claim  such  estate  in  Upper  Canada,  have 
been  registered  three  calendar  months  before  the  date  of  the  writ  of 
election.  In  Lower  Canada,  possession  ofi^he  property  under  a  writ- 
ten promise  of  sale  registered,  if  not  a  notarial  deed,  for  twelve  month* 
before  the  election,  to  be  sufficient  title  to  vote.  In  Upper  Canada, 
a  conveyance  to  wife  after  marriage  must  have  been  registered  three 
calendar  months,  or  husband  have  been  in  possession  of  property  six 
months  before  election." 

"Only  British  subjects  of  the  full  age  of  twenty-one  are  allowed  to 
vote.  Electors  ma^'^  remove  objection  by  producing  certificate,  or  by 
taking  the  oath." 

These  <}ontain  no  proscriptive  provisions,  and  there  are  none.  Col- 
ored men  comply  with  these  provisions  and  vote  in  the  administiratioii 
of  afi'airs.  There  is  no  difference  made  whatever ;  and  even  in  the 
slight  malter  <^f  taking  the  census  it  is  impossible  to  get  at  the  exact 
number  of  whites  or  colored,  as  they  are  not  designated  as- such* 
There  is,  it  is  true,  petty  jealousy  nianifested  at  times  by  individuals, 
which  is  made  use  of  by  the  designing;  but  impartiality  and  strict/ 
justice  characterise  proceedings  at  law,  and  the  bearing  of  the  laws. 
The  oath,  as  prescribed  by  law,  is  as  follows :      ■ 

"  I,  A.  B.,  do  sincerely  promise  and  swear,*  that  I  will  bear  fai^- 
ful  and  true   allegiance  to  Her  Majesty  Queen  Victoria,  as  laV^I 


■n. 


t' 


28 


.  NOTES   OF    CANADA   WEST. 


Sovereign  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britian  ailplreland,  and 
of  this  Province  of  Canada,  dependent  on  and  belongirillto  the  said 
United  Kingdom,  and  that  I  will  defend  her  to  the  utt^|pni||^Jr 
power  against  all  traitors,  conspiracies  and  attempts  whatever 
shall  b6  made  against  Her  Person,  Crown  and  Dignity,  and  that  I 
will  do  my  utmost  endeavor  to  disclose  and  make  known  to  Her 
Majesty,  Her  Heirs  and  Successors  all  treasons  and  traitorous  con- 
spiracies and  attempts  which  I  shall  know  to  be  against  Her  or  any 
of  them,  and  all  this  I  do  swear  without  any  equivocation,  mental 
evasion,  or  secret  reservation,  and  ,renouncing  all  pardons  and  dispen*- 
sations  from  persons  whatever,  to  the  contrary.  So  help  me  God.'' 
*  "The  Deputy  Returning  Officer  may  administer  oath  of  allegiance 
to  persons  who,  according  to  provisions  of  any  Act  of  Parliament, 
shall  become,  on  taking  such  oath,  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  British 
birth  in  the  Province." 

**  Persons  knowing  themselves  not  to  be  qualified,  voting  at  elec- 
"tions,  incur  penalty  of  £10  ;  and  on  action  brought,  the  burden  of 
proof  shall  be  on  the  defendant.     Such  votes  null  and  void." 

*'  The  qualifications  of  Municipal  Councillors  are  as  follows  : — 
Township  Councillor  must  be  a  freeholder  or  householder  of  the 
township  or  ward,  *  *  *  as  proprietor  or  tenant  rated  on  the 
roll,  in  case  of  a  freeholder  for  j£lOO  or  upwards  ;  householder  for 
£200  or  upwards  :  Village  Councillor,  in  case  of  a  freeholder,  for 
£10  or  upwards ;  a  householder  for  £20  and  upwards :  Town 
'  Councillor,  in  case  of  a  freeholder  £20  per  annum  ;  if  a  householder 
to  the  amount  of  £40  and  upwards.  The  property  qualification  of 
Town  Councillors  may  be  partly  freehold  and  partly  leasehold." 

A' tenant  voter  in  town  or  city  must  have  occupied  h"^  actual  resi- 
dence, as  a  separate  tenant,  a  dwelling  house  or  houses  for  twelve 
months,  of  the  yearly  value  of  £i  1  2s.  l^d.  currency,  and  have  paid 
a  year's  rent,  or  that  amount  of  money  for  the  twelve  months  imme- 
diately preceding  the  date  of  election  ivrit.  A  person  holding  onfy  a 
shop  or  place  of  business,  but  not  actually  residing  therein,  is  not 
en^tled  to  vote.  And  a  voter  having  changed  his  residence  within, 
the^^wn  during  the  year,  does  not  aiOfect  his  right  to  vote,  but  must 
vot4;in  the  ward  in  which  h^  resides  on  the  day. 


mff 


freland,  and 
^to  the  said 

tever  wIM 
and  that  I 
5wn  to  Her 
orous  con- 
fer or  any 
)n,  mental 
md  dispen- 
me  God." 
allegiance 
arliament, 
of  British 

gatelec- 
t)urden  of 

Hows  : — 
3r  of  the 
d  on  thf» 
>lder  for 
Ider,  for 
Town 
ieholder 
■ation  of 
[d." 

al  resi- 
twelve  ' 
ve  paid 
imme- 
only  a 
is  not 
Within. 
;  must 


N0TB8   OP   CANADA   WE8T.  29 

-^     ARTICLES  EXEMrT  TROM  Dl'TY. 
The  foUoiiJiig  arc  some  of  the  articles  exempt  from  duty  on  impor- 


lode^  of  machinery  and  other  inventions  and  improvements  in 
the  arts.  Horses  and  carriages  of  travelers  ;  and  horses,  cattle  and 
carriages  and  other  vehicles  when  employed  in  carrying  merchandize, 
togetiier  with  the  necessary  harness  and  tackle,  so  long  as  the  same 
shall  be  bona  fide  in  use  for  that  purpose,  except  the  horses,  cattle, 
carriages  and  harness  of  persons  hawking  goods,  wares  and  merchan- 
dize through  the  Province  for  the  purpose  of  retailing  the  same,  and 
the  horses,  cattle,  carriages  and  harness  of  any  circus  or  equestrian 
troop  for  exhibition ;  the  horses,  cattle,  carriages  and  harness  of  any 
to  be  free." 

"  Donations  of  clothing  specially  imported  for  the  use  of  or  to  be 
distributed  gratuitously  by  any  charitable  society  in  this  Province." 

"  Seeds  of  all  kinds,  farming  utensil«  and  implements  of  husbandry, 
when  specially  imported  in  good  feith  by  any  society  incorporated  or 
established  for  the  encouragement  of  agriculture," 

*'  Wearing  apparel  in  actual  use,  and  other  personal  effects  not 
merchandize;  horses  and  cattle;  implements  and  tools  of  trade  of 
handicraftsmen." 

*  *  *  "  Trees,  shmbs,  bulbs  and  roots ;  wheat  and  Indian 
com  ;  animals  specially  imported  for  the  improvement  of  stock ; 
paintings,  drawings,  maps,  busts,  printed  books,  (not  foreign  reprints 
of  British  copy- right  works,)  ashes,  pot  and  pearl,  and  soda."  * 

'  CURRENCY  OF*  CANADA. 


OOLD. 

The  British  Sovereign  when  of  full  weight, 
U.  S.  Eagle,  coined  before  1st  July  1884, 


U.  S.  Eagle,  between  1st  of  July,  1834,  and  1st  of  July 


CURRENCY. 

£1     4s  4d. 
£1  13s  ^d 


1851, 

SILVER, 

British  Crown, 

Half  cr^wn, 

Shilling, 

Sixpence, 

The  dollar. 

Half    " 

U.  S.  qutfrier  dollar, 

Other     •' 

U,  S.  eighth 


<< 


Gs 

3 

1 

0 

5 

2 

1 

1 

0 


Id 

0 

2 

H 
1 

H 
s 

0 

u 


£2  10s  Od 

SILVER. 

Other  eighth  silver  dollar,  Os  6d 


U.  S.  sixteenth  dollar,  0 

Other        «  "  a 

Five  franc  piece,  4 

COPPER. 

British  penny,  ^  ,    0 

halfpenny,  0 

farthing,  0 


(« 


3 

8 


30 


NOTES   OF   CANADA   WEST. 


•ABSTRACT  OP  LAW  OF  SUCCESSION  IN  UPPErCANADA. 

♦  *  *  "Be  it  therefore  enacted,  &c.,  That  wtilpMiver, on  or 
after  the  first  day  of  January,  which  will  be  in  the  yeaihllf  ^^gfjM^^ 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty-two,  any  person  shall  die  siezed 
in  fee  simple  or  for  the  life  of  another  of  any  real  estate  in  Upper  Can- 
ada, without  having  lawfully  devised  the  same,  such  real  estate  shall 
descend  or  pass  by  way  of  succession  in  manner  following,  that  is  to 
say: 

Firstly — ^To  his  lineal  descendants,  and  those  claiming  by  or  under 
themt  per  stirpes. 

Secondly — To  his  fatlier. 

Thirdly — ^To  his  mother :  and 

Fourthly — ^To  his  collateral  relatives. 

Subject  in  all  cases  to  the  rules  and  regulations  hereinafter  pre- 
scribed. 

.  2.  "  That  if  the  intestate  shall  leave  several  descendant^  in  the 
direct  line  of  lineal  descent,  and  all  of  equal  degree  of  consanguinity 
to  such  intestate,  the  inheritance  shall  descend  to  such  persons  in 
equal  parts,  however  remote  from  the  intestate  the  common  degree  of 
consanguinity  may  be. 

3.  "  That  if  any  of  the  children  of  such  intestate  be  living,  and  any 
be  d6ad,  the  inheritance  shall  descend  to  the  children  who  are  living, 
a^d  to  the  descendants  of  such  children  as  shall  have  died,  so  that 
each  child  who  shall  be  living  shall  inherit  such  share  as  would  have 
descended  to  him  if  all  the  children  of  the  intestate  who  shall  have 
died,  leaving  isi^ue,  had  been  living,  and  so  that  the  descendants  of 
each  child  who  shall  be  dead  shall  inherit  the  share  which  their  pa* 
rents  would  have  received,  if  living,  in  equal  shares. 

*'  18.  That  children  and  relatives  who  are  illegitimate  shall  not  be 
entitled,  to  inherit  under  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  Act." 

THE  THIRTY  THOUSAND  COLORED  FREEMEN  OF  CANADA. 

The  colored  subjects  of  her  Majesty  in  the  Canadas  are,  in  the 
general,  in  good  •ircumstance^,  that  is,  there  are  few  cases  of  positive 

^,M  and  15  Vic.  Cap.  6—1851.    Scobie. 


i 


destitution  i 
settled  pr 


NOTES   OF   CANADA    WIST. 


f 


31 


found  among  those  permanently  settled.  They  are 
uously  in  cities,  towns,  villages,  and  the  farming  dis* 
equal  number  of  colored  men  in  the  States,  north  or 
south,  can  produce  more  freeholders.  They  are  settled  on,  and  own 
portions  of  the  best  farming  lands  in  the  province,  and  own  much  val- 
uable property  in  the  several  cities,  etc.  There  is,  of  course,  a  differ* 
ence  in  the  relative  prosperity  and  deportment  in  different  sections, 
but  a  respect  for,  and  observance  of  the  laws,  is  conceded  to  them  by 
all ;  indeed,  much  indifference  on  the  part  of  whites  has  given  place 
to  genuine  sympathy,  and  the  active  abolitionists  and  liberal  men  of 
the  country,  look  upon  that  element  in  their  character  as  affording 
ground  for  hope  of  a  bright  future  for  ihem,  and.  as  evidence  that  their 
sympathy  for  the  free  man  is  not  misplaced,  as  more  than  compensa* 
tion  for  their  own  exertions  for  those  yet  in  bonds.  I  have  said,  there 
is  but  little  actual  poverty  among  them.  They  are  engaged  in  the 
different  trades  and  other  manual  occupations.  They  have  a  paper 
conducted  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Bibb,  and  other  able  men,  white  and 
colored,  are  laboring  amopg  them,  and  in  view  of  the  protection  afford* 
ed,  there  is  no  good  reason  why  they  should  not  prosper.  After  the 
passage  of  the  fugitive  law,  the  sudden  emigration  of  several  thou- 
sand in  a  few  months,  destitute  as  they  necessarily  were,  from  having, 
in  many  instances,  to  leave  behind  them  all  they  possessed,  made  not 
a  little  suffering  for  a  brief  period,  (only  among  them,)  and  the  report 
of  their  condition  had  an  injurious  bearing  upon  all  the  colored  set- 
tlers. Clothing,  provisions,  and  other  articles  were  sent  them,  but 
often  so  disposed  of,  or  appropriated,  as  not  to  benefit  those  for  whom 
intended.  Distrust  of  agents,  indiscriminately,  and  altogether  but 
little  real  good  has  followed  from  the  charity.  The  sensible  men 
among  them,  seeing  the  uad  results  from  a  general  character  for  pov- 
erty a,nd  degradation,  have  not  been  slow  to  expj^ess  their  disappro- 
bation in  the  social  circle,  in  meetings,  and  through  the  public  papers. 
The  following  extracts  express  fully  the  sentiments  of  nine-tenths  of 
the  colored  men  of  Canada ;  they  think  they  are  fully  able  to  live 
without  begging.    There  are  others  (very  ignorant  people,)  who  think 


"»•« 


32 


N0TE8   OV   CANADA    WEST. 


clifferontly,  as  ihem  will  bo  in  all  communities,  though ^thiyy  ore  in  the 
minority.  There  are  those,  also,  and  they  are  a  rcspect|ble  minority^ 
(in  point  of  numbers,)  who  are  in  favor  of  distinctive  oliurfli^M  |^ 
schools,  and  of  bein^  entirely  to  themselves  ;  they  will  conno  in  for 
especial  notico^but  first,  let  us  hear  the  people  of  Buxton  and  othar 

places :  -  ^ 

"if  facts  would  bear  out  the  statements  made,  the  fugitives  wouW 
have  little  to  choose  between  slavery  on  one  side  of  the  line,  ami 
starvation  on  the  other:  but  we  rejoice  that  he  is  noi  reduced  to  the 
alternative.  The  man  who  is  willing  to  work  need  not  suffer,  and 
unless  a  man  supports  himself  he  will  neither  be  indep  v  dent  nor  re- 
spectable in  any  coun.try."  *  *  *  "The  cry  that  has  been  often 
raise'J,  that  wo  could  not  support  ourselves,  is  a  foul  slander,  got  up 
by  our  enemies,  and  circulated  both  on  this  and  the  other  side  of  the 
line,  io  our  prejudice.  Having  lived  many  years  in  Canada,  we  hesi- 
tate not  to  say  that  all  who  are  able  and  willing  to  work,  can  make 
a  good  living."  *  *  ♦  Itis  time  the  truth  should  be  known  con- 
cerning the  relief  that  has  been  sent  to  the  "suffering  fugitives  in 
Canada,"  and  to  what  extent  it  has  been  applietl.  The  boxes  of 
clothing  and  barrels  of  provisions  which  have  been  sent  in,  from  time 
to  time,  by  the  praiseworthy,  but  misguided  zeal  of  friends  in  the  Uni- 
\ed  States,  has  been  employed  to  support  the  idle,  who  are  too  lazy 
to  work,  and  who  form  but  a  small  portion  of  the  colored  population 
in  Canada.  There  are  upwards  of  thirty  thousand  colored  persons 
in  Canada  West,  and  not  more  than  three  thousand  of  them  have 
ever  received  idd,  and  not  more  than  half  of  them  required  it  had  they 
been  willing  to  work.  We  4o  not  think  it  right  that  twenty-seven 
thousand  colored  persoaas,  who  are  supporting  themselves  by  their 
own  industiyi  should  lie  under  the  disgrace  of  being  called  public 
beggars,  when  they  receive  nothing,  and  don't  want  anything.  *  * 
We  wish  the  people  of  the  United  States  to  know  that  there  is  one 
portion  of  Canada  West  whiaw  the  colored  people  are  self-supporting, 
and  they  wish  them  to  s&nd  neither  petticoat  nor  pantaloons  to  the 
county  of  Kent.    *    "t    ♦   ,The  few  cases  of  real  want  which  arise 


NOTES  QF   CANADA    WK8T. 


as 


( 


from  sickneM  or  old  age,  can,  with  a  trifling  eflfort,  be  relieveil  here, 

without  inaUing  it  a  pretext  for  a  system  of  wholesale  bogging  in  the 

United  Statei."  "^^ 

EDWARD  R.  GRANTS,  ) 

SAMUEL  WICKHAM,  }       Committee. 

.  ROBERT  HARRIS.  ) 

"As  to  the  state  of  things  in  Toronto  and  in  Hamilton,  I  can  say, 
from  actual  observation,  that  extreme  suflfering  is  scarcely  known 
among  the  black  people,  while  some  who  are  far  from  being  as  indus* 
trio  us  and  deserving  as  they  ought  to  be,  receive  aid  to  which  they 
would  hardly  seem  entitled." — S.  R.  Ward'sLetUtrto  the  Voice  of  iha 
Fugitive,  - 

Notwithstanding  the  prosperity  and  liberal  senVunent  of  the  ma* 
^qrity,  there  is  yet  a  great  deal  of  ignorance,  bigotry,  prejudice*  and 
idleness.  There  are  those  who  are  only  interested  in  education  to 
far  as  the  establishment  of  separate  schools,  churches,  6lc.,  tend  to 
make  broad  the  line  of  separation  they  wish  to  make  between  them 
and  the  whites ;  and  they  are  active  to  increase  their  numbers,  and  to 
perpetuate,  in  the  minds  of  the  newly  arrived  emigrant  or  refugee, 
prejudices,  originating  in  slavery,  and  as  strong  and  objectionable  in 
their  manifestations  as  those  entertained  by  whites  towards  them.  £v* 
ery  casual  remark  by  whites  is  tortured  into  a  decided  and  effective 
negro  hate.  The  expressions  of  an  individual  are  made  to  infer  the 
existence  of  prejudice  on  the  part  of  the  whites,  and  partiality  by  the 
administrators  of  public  affairs'  The  recently  arrived  fugitives,  un- 
acquainted with  the  true  state  of  things,  is  "completely  convinced  by 
the  noisy  philippic  against  all  the  "white  folks,"  and  all  colored  ones 
who  think  differently  from  them,  and  he  is  tlms  prepared  to  aid  dem- 
agogues in  preventing  the  adoption  of  proper  measures  for  the  i^read 
of  education  and  general,  intelligence,  to  maintain  an  ascendency 
over  the  inferior  minds  around  them,  and  to  make  the  way  of  the 
missionary  a  path  of  thorns.  Among  thaf  portion,  generally,  may 
those  be  found,  who  by  their  indolent  habits,  tend  to  give  poiailto 
what  of  prejudice  is  lingering  in  tke  minds  of  the  whiteii;  aod  it 
is  to  be  feared  that  they  may  take  some  misguided  step  now,;tiie^n- 
sequences  of  which  will  entail  evil  on  the  many  who  will  hereafter 


34 


f   .     "!•■'    T     ':  -      -- 

•-  NOTES    OK    CANADA    WEST. 


settle  in  Canada.  The  only  ground  of  hope  is  in  the  native  good 
sense  of  those  who  arc  now  making  use  of  the  same  ifi^iirumentaU- 
ties  for  improvement  as  are  tlio  whites  around  them. 

THE  FRENCH  ANt)  FOREIGN  POPULATION. 

The  population  of  Canada  consists  of  English,  Scotch,  French, 
Irish  and  Americans  ;  and,  including  colored  persons,  numbeis  about 
1,582,000.  Of  the  whites,  the  French  are  in  the  majority,  but  the  in- 
creasing emigration  of  Irish,  Scotch,  English  and  other  Europeans,  is 
fast  bringing  about  ajn  equality  in  point  of  numbers  that  will  be  felt  in 
political  circles.     In  Canada  West  the  French  are  in  the  minority. 

The  disposition  of  the  peoph  generally  towards  colored  emigrants^ 
that  is,  BO  far  as  the  opinions  of  old  settlers  may  be  taken,,  and  my 
own  observation  may  be  allowed,  is  as  friendly  as  could  be  looked  for 
under  the  circumstances.  The  Yankees,  in  the  country  and  in  the 
States  adjoining,  leave  no  opportunity  unimproved  to  embitter  their 
miiids  against  them.  The  result  is,  in  some  sections,  a  contemptible 
sort  of  prejudice,  which,  among  English,  is  powerless  beyond  the  in- 
dividual entertaining  it-»-not  even  affecting  his  circle.  This  grows  out 
of  the  constitution  of  English  society,  in  which  people  are  not  obliged 
to  think  as  others  do.  There  is  more  independent  thought  and  free 
depression  than  among  Americans.  The  affinity  between  the  Yan- 
kees and  French  is  strong ;  said  to  grow  out  of  similar  intentions  with 
r^pect  to  polHical  affairs:  and  they  express  most  hostility^  but  it  is 
not  of  a  complexional  character  only,  as  that  lerves  as  a  mark  to 
identify  men  of  a  different  policy.  Leaving  out  Yankees — having  but 
little  practical  experience  of  colored  people — they,  (the  French,)  are 
pie-dispocfed,  from  the  influence  alluded  to,  to  deal  roughly  with  them; 
but  in  the  main  benevolence  and  a  sense  of  justice  are  elements  in 
their  character.  They  are  not  averse  to  truth.  There  is  a  prevailing 
hostility  to  chattel  slavery,  aikl  an  honest  cepresentation  of  the  colored 
people :  their  aims  and  progressive  character,  backed  by  unifoncKi 
good  conduct  on  their  part,  would  in  a  very  short  time  des;roy  every 
veftig©  of.prejudice  in  the  Province. 
/**  The  public  mind  literally  thirsts  for  the  truth,  and  honest  listi-rt- 


I 


NOTES    OF    CANADA    WEST. 


Sd 


ers,  ond  anxious  inquirers  will  travel  many  miles,  crowd  our  country 
chapels,  ail4  remain  for  hours  eagerly  and  patiently  seeking  the  ligh(. 
#  »  ♦  ♦  Le^  ti^y  ignorance  now  prevalent  on  the  subject  of 
slavery  be  met  by  fair  and  full  discussion,  and  open  and  thorough  in- 
vestigation, and  the  apathy  and  prejudice  now  existing  will  soon  dis* 
appear." — S,  R.  Ward. 

Colored  persons  have  been  refused  entertainment  in  taverns,  (inva- 
riably of  an  inferior  class,)  and  on  some  boats  distinction  is  made  ; 
but  in  all  cases,  it  is  that  kind  of  distinction  that  is  made  between  poor 
foreigners  and  other  passengers,  on  the  cars  and  steamboats  of  the 
Northern  States.  There  are  the  emigrant  train  and  the  forward  deck 
in  the  United  States.  In  Canada,  colored  persons,  holding  the  same 
relation  to  the  Canadians,  arc  in  some  cases  treated  similarly.  It  is 
an  easy  letter  to  make  out  a  case  of  prejudice  in  any  country.  Wc 
naturally  look  for  it,  and  the  conduct  of  many  is  calculated  to  cauae 
unpleasant  treatment,  and  to  make  it  difficult  for  well-mannered 
persons  to  get  comfortable  accommodations.  There  is  a  medium  bo* 
tween  servility  and  presumption,  that  recommends  itself  to  all  per- 
sons of  common  sense,  of  whatever  rank^  or  complexion ;  and  if 
colored  people  would  avoid  the  two  extremes,  there  would  be  but 
few  cases  of  prejudices  to  complain  of  in  Canada.  In  cases  in 
which  tavern  keepers  and  other  public  characters  persist  in  refusing 
to  entertain  them,  they  can,  in  common  with  the  traveling  public 
generally,  get  redress  at  law. 

^  Persons  emigrating  to  Canada,  need  not  hope  to  find  the  general 
state  of  society  as  it  is  in  the  States.  There  is  as  in  the  old  country, 
a  strong  class  feeling — lines  are  as  completely  drawn  between  thq 
different  classes,  and  aristocracy  in  the  Canadas  is  the  same  in  its 
manifestations  as  aristocracy  in  England,  Scotland  and  elsewhere. 
There  is  no  approach  to  Southern  chivalry,  nor  the  sensitive  demc^ 
racy  prevalent  at  the  North ;  but  there  is  an  aristocracy  of  birth, 
of  skin,  as  with  Americans.  In  the  ordinary  arrangements  of  socijj 
from  wealthy  and  titled  immigrants  and  visitors  from  tl^en^ot 
country,  down  through  the  intermediate  circles  to  Yankees  an^ 
dians,  it  appears  to  have  been  settled  by  common  consent,  till 


'ite> 


,"iV 


36 


NOTES  OP   CANADA   WEST. 


/,j'...- 


ctasfi  should  not  "see  any  trouble  over  another ;"  but  the  commoti 
ground  on  which  all  honest  and  respectable  men  meipt,  is  that  of 
innate  hatred  of  American  Slavery. 

RECAPITULATION. 

The  conclusion  arrived  at  in  respect  to  Canada,  by  an]^impartial 
person,  is,  that  no  settled  country  in  America  offers  stronger  induce- 
meilts  to  colored  people.  The  climate  is  healthy,  and  they  enjoy  as 
good  health  as  other  settlers,  or  as  the  natives ;  the  soil  is  of  the 
int  quality ;  the  laws  of  the  country  give  to  them,  at  ^rst,  the  same 
pTOtecfion  and  |)rivileges  as  to  other  persons  not  bom  subjects ;  and 
alter  compliance  with  Acts  of  Parliament  affecting  them,  as  taking 
Oftlli,  6tc»f  they  may  enjoy  full  *'  privileges  of  British  Jbirth  in  the 
Province."  The  general  tone  of  society  is  healthy ;  vice  is  discoun- 
MttAtlCed,  and  infractions  of  the  law  promptly  punished ;  and,  added 
to  this,  there  is  an  increasing  an ti -slavery  sentiment,  and  a  pro- 
gTBttsiVe  system  of  religion.    _ .    U^^^l  -  -^fi  n 


« 


■H. 


THE  BRITISH  WEST  INDIES— MEXICO- 
AMERICA— AFRICA. 


-SOUTH 


htducemonts  have  been  held  out  by  planters  to  colored  men,  to 
tettte  in  the  British  West  Indies,  and  agents  have  been  sent  particu- 
lai^y  from  JamaiojBi  and  Trinidad,  from  time  to  time,  to  confer  with 
theih  on  the  subject.  The  most  prominent  feature  in  their  efforts,  has 
beki  thto  dii^6ct  advantage  to  the  planter  from  such  emigration.  The 
advaritdgeil  to  be  derived  by  settlers,  in  a  pecuniary  point,  from  any 
system  of  emigration  originathig  with  proprietors  of  estates,  will  be 
dlbitfufbi,  so  long  as  the  present  mode  of  planting,  managing  ^nd  in- 
khiilg  estates,  continues,  if  the  emigrants  consent  to  be  mere  labor- 
i^tllte^  of  owners  of  the  soil.  But  from  a  system  of  voluntary 
itidh  to  thoio  islands,  di|[eirent  results  may  be  looked  for.  The 
list  miiih6d  would  but  degrade  them,  the  latter  materially  elevate 
lire  vicinity  of  thdse  islands  to  the  southern  United  States 
^H  necessary  that  they  should  be  peopled  by  colored  men,  and 


w 


KOTES   OF   CANADA   WEST. 


37 


under  British  protection  ;  in  short,  that  thoy  should  be  British  sub* 
ject».    The  |rolicy  of  the  dominant  party  in  the  United  States,  is  to 
dtivefree  colored  people  out  of  the  country,  and  to  send  them  to  Afri- 
ca, only,  and  at  the  some  time,  to  give  the  fullest  guaranty  to  slave- 
holders, for  the  continuance  of  their  system.    To  fulfil,  to  the  letter, 
this   latter,  they  make  large  calculations  of  a  future  interest  in  the 
West  Indies,  Honduras,  and  ultimately  South  America.     They  wish 
to  consecrate  to   slavery   and  the  slave  power  that  portion  of  this 
continent ;  at  the  same  time  they  deprecate  the  vicinity  of  freemen. 
To  preserve  those  countries   from  the  ravages   of  slavery,  should  be 
the  motive  to  their  settlement  by  colored  men.     Jamaica,  with  its 
fine  climate  and  rich  soil,  is  the   key  to  the  gulf  of  Mexico.     It  is 
not  distant  from  the  United  States,  Cuba,  nor  Hayti ;  but,  as  if  pro- 
videntially, is  just  so  positioned  that,  if  properly  garrisoned  by  col- 
ored free  men,  may,  under  Britain,  promptly   and  effectually  check 
"foreign  interference  in  its  own  policy,  and  any  mischievous  designs 
now  in  contemplation  toward  Cuba  and  Hayti.     So  of  that  portion 
of  the  Isthmus  now  under  the  protection  of  Great  Britain.    In  view 
of  the  ultimate  destiny  of  the  southern  portion  of  North  America, 
it  is  of  the  first  importance  that  colored  men  strengthen  that  and 
similar  positions  in  that  region.     They  are  the  natural  protectors  of 
the  Isthmus  and  the  contiguous  country :  it  is  said  by  medical  miein, 
that  those  of  the  human  family,  physically  capable  of  resisting  tk6 
influences  of  great  heat,  are  also   capable  of  enduring  severe  cold ; 
and  the  varied  experience   of  colored  persons  in  America,  proves 
that  they  live  to  as  great  age  as  whiter,  whether  as  whalemen  in  the 
northern  seas,  and  settlers  in  the  British  provinces,  (far  north  of  the 
United  States,)  or  in  the  West  Indies.    The  question  of  availabiH- 
kty,  can  never  be  raised,  for  at  this  time  there  are  those  who  conduct 
with  great  ability  the  business  of  the  Islands.     Colored  men^ 
greatly  in  the  majority,  not  more  than  one -sixth  are  whites, 
are  legislators,  lawyers,  physicians,  ministers,  planters,  editorsj 
chants,  and  laborers ;  and  they  demonstrate  clearly  their 
for  self-government,  and  the  vartooilr  tlBpartments  of  dvil' 
the  great  change  in  their  condition  since  emancipatidA.    Tl 


„* 


38 


NOTES    OF    CANADA    WEST. 


of  loss  from  the  emancipation  act,  is  a  gross  misrepresentation,  got* 
ten  up  by  interested  parties  for  the  benefit  of  slavery.,  True  there 
may  not  be  so  much  exported  as  formerly,  for  the  very  good  reason 
that  there  are  more  purchasers  at  home.  The  miserably  fed  slave 
of  former  days,  is  now  the  independent /ree  man,  with  the  ability  to 
buy  whatever  his  judgment  prompts  him  to.  Neither  is  the  demand 
for  laborers  for  large  estates  evidence  that  the  peasantry  are  idle. 
There  are  more  small  farmers  and  cultivators  on  their  own  account, 
more  store-keepers  and  traders,  and  they  of  the  emancipated  class. 
More  attention  is,  of  course,  paid  to  education,  and  the  children 
are  thus  relieved,  in  a  measure,  from  out  door  duties.  Much  has 
been  done  by  the  colored  people  of  those  islands  to  improve  their 
condition,  and  much  more  may  be  done  conjointly  with  emigrants 
from  the  States,  to  perfect  society,  strengthen  the  British  in  that 
quarter,  and  thus  keep  up  "the  balance  of  power."  It  needs  no 
prophet  to  foretell  the  establishment  of  an  empire  formed  out  of  the 
southern  United  States  and  Mexico.  Tlie  settlement  by  colored 
pe9ple  of  those  countries,  with  their  ftiany  sympathizers,  is  but  a 
preparatory  step :  that  step  has  been  taken,  slavery  and  republican 
rapacity  will  do  the  rest.  Under  what  more  favor&ble  auspices  could 
emigration  to  the  West  Indies  be  made  than  the  present,  now  that 
a  general  wejlcome  would  be  extended  by  the  people  to  those  who 
would  like  a  milder  climate  than  the  States  ?  What  government 
so  powerful  and  so  thoroughly  impartial,  as  Her  Majesty's  ;  so  prac- 
tically anti-slavery,  and  so  protective?  None.  The  objectipj^  that 
"we  wish  our  own  government,  to  demonstrate  our  capacity  for  self- 
government,  is  done  away  with  at  once,  for  there  are  colonies  con- 
trolled, so  far  as  their  immediate  affairs  extend,  by  colored  men. 
JThe  assertion  that  white  men  universally  degrade  colored,  is  dis^ 
jved  by  the  facts.  There  is  no  aristocracy  of  skin ;  every 
^ive  to  honorable  effort  is  kept  before  them.  It  is  of  the  first 
tance,  then,  that  the  government  of  those  islands  should  be  anti- 
and  that  only  governments,  an ti -slavery  in  spirit  and  tenden- 
having  a  liberal  religious  policy,  should  be  sought  out  by 
people  from  the  United  Stages.    They,  of  all  others  on  this 


I 


\" 


KOTKS   OF    CANADA   WEST. 


39 


conlineiit,^ave  drank  plentifully  of  the  cup   of  degradation,  made 
more  bitte*  from  the  never  ending  parade   about  freedom.    They 
Ivould  be  pOtverful  auxiliaries  of  the  present  inhabitants,  in  forming 
a  wall  of  defense,  or  available  for  oflfensive  operations,  as  a  decided 
protest,  for  instance,  as  the  best  interests   and  policy  of  the  British 
government  might  demand.    Those  who  oppose  emigration  from  the 
United  States,  say,  "you  (colored  people,)  will  not  desire  to  be  the 
laborers  in  other  countries  ;  to  dig  the  canals,  work   on  rail  roads, 
ditch,  and  the  like,  but  you  will   prefer  tp  engage  in  trade,  and 
that  others  will  forestall  you."     Men  who  are  honest  in  their  desire 
for  a  change,  who  love  liberty  better  than  slavery,  or  who  are  unwil- 
ling to  await  the  tedious,  process  by  which,  in  •the  United  States, 
their  rights  will  be  given,  if  ever,  will  not  be  fastidious  on  emigra* 
ting  to  a  country.     Emigr?ints  to   any  country,  who  should  aim  at  a 
monopoly  of  the.  so  called   respectable   occupations,  exclusively, 
would  be  looked  upon  with  distrust,  as  well  as  contempt,  and  the 
result  to  the  emigrant  would  not  be  far  different  from  a  monopoly  of 
menial  employments.     There  will  be  no  scarcity  of  land,  and  a  me- 
dium, between  the   extensive   operations   of  capitalists,  and  the  de- 
grading occupations  of  colored  people,  generally,  in  the  crowded 
cities  of  the  United  States,  thus  opens  to  them  a  certain  road  to  fu- 
ture eminence,  in   every  way  preferable  to  the  sudden  changes  and 
chances  of  trade,  exclusively. 

Allusion  is  at  times  made  to  South  America,  and  plans  for  a  grant  of 
territory  from  governments  in  that  country,  in  which  to  form  an  "in- 
dependent government,"  have  been  proposed.  Othei6  say,  "unite 
with  existing  governmei^ts."  Neither  plan  can  recommend  itself  to 
prospective  emigrants  generally.    In  the  first  place,  there  is  no  pre- 

*^  cedent  on  record  of  a  grant,  similar  to  the  one  sought,  and  the  polL 
cy  of  independent  governments,  with  respect  to  each  other,  wt 
always  be  opposed  to  unqualified  grants.    The  great  objectj] 
uniting  with  those  governments  at  present,  would  be  their 

*  toleration  ir.  matters  of  religion ;  so  long  as  the  iMimate  cc 
of  the  State  with  the  Romish  Church  exists,  those  countries* 
but  a  poor  asylum  for  the  oppressed.    Tlie  liberals,  with  th( 


•  M«V: 


40 


KOT£S   OK    CANADA   WEST. 


H^ 


a  minority,  struggling  for  life  against  the  exactions  of  popery»  and 
ihe  ambition  of  military  chiefs.  Would  colored  men  be  piepaied 
to  adopt  the  religion  of  the  country  ?  That  with  them  would  J^lJ^ 
only  guaranty  of  protection,  such  "protection  as  vultures  give  to 
lambs."  "Let  us  seize  upon  Africa,  or  some  other,  unapprepriatedterri- 
while  we  raay,"say  others,  "and  establish  our  own  governments."  But 
Africa  has  already  been  seized  upon  ;  the  Ei^glish,  French,  Portuguese, 
Spanish  and  Turks,  have  long  since  shared  heroyt  among  themselves, 
and  little  Liberia  may  yet  revert  to  some  heir-at-law,  who  has  purposely 
been  unmindful  of  her.  There  is  yet  Mexico,  to  be  spoken  of  here- 
after, and  a  southern  continent,  but  that  belongs  to  the  United  States, 
it  may  be  by  right  of  discovery  ;  so  there  seems  to  be  no  safe  alterna- 
tive left  but  to  be  satisfied  with  that  government  now  existing  that 
is  most  reliable  and  most  powerful.  That  government  is  Great  Brit- 
ain ;  her  dependencies  form  a  secure  home  for  the  American  slave, 
and  the  disgraced  free  man.  The  last  of  her  possessions  to  which  I 
shall  call  attention  in  this  place,  is  Vancouver's  Island. 


MEXICO. 

The  vicinity  of  Mexico  to  the  United  States,  and  the  known  hos- 
tility of  Mexicans  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  weigh  strongly  with 
0me  persons  in  favor  of  emigration  to  that  country  ;  but  on  careful 
consideration,  it  will  b^^  seen  that  that  country  does  not  present  the 
features,  in  the  main,  that  the  States  of  South  America  do.  The 
hankering  of  the  old  Castilians  after  lost  power,  is  much  greater  in 
Mexico  than  farther  south  ;  and  to  regain  that  there  would  not  be 
scruples  about  a  coalition  with  American  Slaveholders,  even.  The 
spirit  of  democracy  has  never  so  thoroughly  pervaded  that  country, 
as  those  under  the  shadow  of  Simon  Bolivar.  Mexico  was  called 
^  Spain.  In  her  was  remodelled  the  prominent  features  of  Span- 
)licy  in  Europe.  There  was  the  grand  centre  point  of  Spanish 
r,  religious  intolerance,  and  regal  domination,  for  the  New 
In  the  Stages,  of  South  America,  a  change  of  policy  was  a 
growing  QUj^of  the  relations  of  the  Church  of  Roma  to 
generally.    In  M^.^aco,  it  was  an  earnest  demand  of  the  ma- 


I 


VOTSS  OF   OAKADA    WEST. 


41 


I 


jority  to  throwijoff  the  Spanish  yoke.  This  is  shown  in  the  relative 
poution  of  %0  Church  in  those  countries.  In  Mexico  the  Roman 
C^l^hpt^  fihuikch.  is  in  undisputed  supremacy,  and  the  Pope  is  to 
them  me  ultimatum.  In  the  tates  of  South  Amenca,  though  that 
religion  prevails,  yet  concession  has  been  made,  by  Rome,  in  the 
person  of  a  dignitary  of  equal  powers  there  with  the  Pope  elsewhere. 
With  them  the  Pope  is  but  little  more  respected  than  the  Greek 
Patriarch.  In  those  States,  except  Peru,  (in  which  there  is  but  one 
idea  generally  among  Natives  and  Spanish,)  there  was  no  pre- 
viously civilized  class,  continually  brooding  over  Spanish  wrongs  : 
the  natives  came  to  terms,  and  threy  and  Creoles  combined  to  de- 
stroy Spanish  tyranny  backed  by  Rome  ;  consequently,  after  victory 
over  Spain  was  achieved  by  them,  their  remaining  enemy  was  and  is 
the  Church  in  its  modified  form.  It  yet  has,  a?  before  said,  suffi- 
cient influence  to  make  those  countries  undesirable  for  colored 
people  from  the  Uiiited  States  in  the  present  phase  of  things.  We 
want  a  strong  positiori ;  Mexico  does  not  offer  that,  even  though  the 
majority  are  anti- slavery.  The  Southern  United  States  have 
"  marked  her  for  their  prey,"  which  she  will  be  for  a  time ;  and 
combining  with  the  minority,  the  probability  is  a  contest  for  the  su- 
premacy of  slavery  for  a  long  time.  If  it  were  certain  that  slavery 
would  not  be  tolerated  but  for  a  short  period,  still  the  move  would 
be  inexpedient,  as  direct  contact  with  revolutionary  movements,  or 
other  plans  of  progress,  in  her  present  state  affecting  it,  would  be 
inevitable.  The  position  of  colored  Americans  must  be  a  conserva- 
tive one,  for  a  time,  in  any  foreign  country,  (from  the  very  nature  of 
their  relations  to  foreign  nations,)  as  well  as  for  themselves  in  the 
United  States  ;  and  it  were  folly 'in  them  to  voluntarily  enter  the 
breach  between  any  two  hostile  natioirs  until  stronger  in  position  ; 
their  efforts,  to  be  rational,  should  be  to  gain  strength.  People  wJio 
love  liberty  do  not  emigrate  to  weak  governments  to  embroil  thei 
selv;^8  in  their  quarrels  with  stronger  ones,  but  to  strong  ones,  to 
to  thei^  strength  and  better  their  own  coi^iition,  and  oreigners  fig| 
for  others,  are,  generally,  either  hirelings,  or  isolated  adveiilu^ 
striving  after  fame.  Whatever  people  go  to  Mexico '|nd  adof 
6 


"/■ 


-^.y  y 


42 


KOTIS  or  OAKADA  WEST. 


instittitioRS,  must  calculate  before  hand,  to  set  aside  the  liftlbits  of 
independent  civil  life — must  for  a  long  time  repudiate4he  plough, 
the  arts,  and  trade,  with  their  concomitants^  in  a  greatt^ouiltJy,  or 
make  them  but  secondary  in  importance  to  the,  there,  paramount 
idea  of  military  life,  and  the  certainty  of  frequent  attacks  from  abroad 
and  at  home.  The  weakness,  or  rather  the  internal  feuds  of  Mexico, 
invite  attack  from  unscrupulous  parties,  is  it  meet  then  that  emigrants 
of  any  nation  should  make  haste  to  "  settle  there  ?"  We  look  in  vain 
for  the  precedent  of  emigration  to  a  country,  distracted  even  to 
bloodshed,  with  internal  feuds,  by  any  people  ;  and  we  may  look  in 
vain  for  prosperity.  In  advocating  this,  we  would  leave  out  of 
sight,  the  check  that  a  fortifying  of  the  West  Indies  with  our  emi- 
grants would  give  to  depredations  on  the  contiguous  countries,  and 
only  gratify  the  love  to  fight,  without  Immediate  advantage.  Let 
Mexico,at  present,  take  care  of  herself,  by  the  efforts  of  her  own  mixed 
population  rightly  directed,  and  let  our  emigrants  bo  aholitionize  and 
strengthen  neighboring  positions  as  to  promote  the  prosperity  and 
harmony  of  the  whole.  This  can  be  done  without  compromising  away 
honor;  in  fact,  the  sentiment  "  liberty  or  death,"  is  never  realized  but 
by  80  proceeding  as  to  secure  the  first  permanently,  and  only  courting 
the  latterwhen  life  is  no  longer  of  utility.  I  know  that  the  recollection 
of  innumerable  wrongs,  makes  the  de»re  for  payment  in 'like  coin 
the  necessity  of  some  men's  natures,  but  no  real  end  is  jtttained  after 
all :  the  Indians  have  learned  sense  from  frequent  defeat,  the  con- 
sequence of  going  to  war  before  they  were  prepared,  and  whole 
tribes  now  cultivate  the  ar{s  of  peace  and  progress.  Let  us  learn 
even  of  savages !  We  can  get  up  a  fight  at  any  time, 
but  who  is  the  wiser  for  the  sight  ?  No  one,  honest  men 
would  but  try  to  suppress  it;  so  woald  a  coalition  with  any  nation, 
and  especially  a  weak  one,  to  carry  out  retaliatory  measures,  result. 
[^The  pro -slavery  party  of  the  United  States  is  the  aggressive  party 

this  continent.    It  is  the  serpent  that  aims  to  swallow  all  others. 

I  meet  then  to  make  strongholds,  and,  if  need  be,  defend  them; 
tvill  be  the  most  effeetive  check  to  greediness  of  land  and 

roes*        k 


MOTES  OF  OAVADA  WIST, 


% 


43 


VAKCrcWtER'S  ISLAND—CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 

^IslflifiEl  is  situated  between  49  ®  and  61  ®  nonh  latitude,  or 
orrmi  Winhern  boundary  of  British  America;  and  between  122  ® 
and  12*7  ®  west  longitude.    It  is  about  three  hundred  miles  long, 
and  between  ninety  and  one  hundred  miles  broad,  and  contains 
about  twenty-eight  thousand  square  miles.  Though  remotely  situated, 
and  comparatively  uninhabited,  (there  being  not  more  than  twenty 
thousand  persons  on  it,)  it  will,  it  is^  said,  be  the  first  island  in  im-« 
portance  on  the  globe.     It  has  a  fine  climate,  being  in  the  same  lat- 
itude as  the  south  of  England,  Germany,  and  the  north  of  France: 
the  soil  is  also  of  the  best  description.    But  it  is  not  as  an  agricul- 
tural island  that  it  will  surpass  all  others.    The  Western  Continent^ 
and  particularly  the  r  orthern  part,  say  "  wise  men  of  the  east;" 
must  eventually  leave  the  eastern  far  in  the  distance,  (a  fact  that 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of  by  colored  men,)  and  that  over  tho  Pacific 
will  the  trade  with  eastern  nations  be  prosecuted.    Ic  is  important 
now  as  a  stopping  place  for  whale  ships  visiting  the  Northern  Seas, 
and  is  directly  in  the  route  to  the  East  Indies,  Japan  Isles,  and 
China,  from  Oregon  and  British  America.    The  overland  route  to 
the  Pacific  terminating  near  that  point,  the  great  Atlantic  tvade  of 
Western  Europe  and  America  will  find  there  the  most  practicable 
outlet  and  the  shortest  distance  to  Eastern  Asia  ;  consequently  the" 
people  there  settled,  of  whatever  complexion,  will  be  the  "iffirchant 
princes  of  the  world,"  and  under  the  protection  of  Great  Briiain. 
Now,  there  are  two  weighty  reasons  why  the  people  settled  ther^ 
should  be  colored  principally;  the  first,  because  by  that  means  they 
would  become  more  fully  involved  in  the  destiny  of  this  Cohtineht ; 
any  eastern  move  of  magnitude,  as  for  instance  to  Africa;,  if  possible, 
would  appear  a  retrograde  step,  now  that  the  current  of  affairs  is  so 
clearly  setUng  west :   and,  secondly,  in  no  more  eiectual  way  coiild ' 
a  check  be  given  to  the  encroachmeilts  of  slavei^  on  free,  soil.'  ^  'S^^ 
purely  American  eympeAhy  fot  **  kith  ahd  kin- "  only,- Would  eitii*^-- 
rience  unmistakc^i>le'  obstacles^  to  its  free  exere^,iti^e  event  'c 
contempittted  ^exatioh  of  that  deli^^tful  Wmmt^mmifi 


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;  ;^  It  will  be  seen,  that  the  possibility  of  a  pretty  exteo|^e  raajgratioa 

t those  countries  has  been  the  prominent  feature  t)iv<^B|^oiit  ihls 
ct,  and  for  that  reason  direct  reference  has  been  n]|d^i  |i^j|;|i^r 
points,  under  British  jurisdiction,  than  Canada.  The ^pm^lne'**' 
given  to  these,  (Oanada,  West  Indies,  and  Vancouver's  Island,)  over 
British  Colonies  elsewhere,  has  been  because  of  their  strong  position 
and  availability  in  every  way.  There  would  not  be  as  in  Africa, 
Mexico,  or  South  America,  hostile  tribes  to  annoy  the  settler,  or  de- 
^stroy  at  will  towns  and  villages  with  their  inhabitants  :  the  strong 
arm  of  British  pow6r  would  summarily  punish  depYedations  made,  of 
whatever  character,  and  the  emigrants  would  naturally  assume  the 
responsibility  of  British  freemen. 

The  question  whether  or  not  an  extensive  emigration  by  the  free 
colored  people  of  the  United  States  would  affect  the  institution  of 
slavery,  Ivould  then  be  answered.  I  have  here  taken  the  affirmative 
of  that  question,  because  that  view  of  the  case  seems  to  me  mOst 
clear.  The  free  colored  people  have  steadily  discountenanced  any 
rational  scheme  of  emigration,  in  the  hope  thit  by  remaining  in  ^^he 
States,  a  powerful  miracle  for  the  overthrow  of  'slavery  would  be 
wrought.  What  are  the  facts.  More  territory  has  been  given  up  to 
slavery^  the  Fugitive  Law  has  passed,  and  a  concert,  of  measures,  se- 
riously affecting  their  personal  liberty,  has  been  entered  into  by 
several  of  the  Free  states;  so  subtle,  unseen  and'effective  have  been 
their  mdftments,  that,  were  it  not  that  we  remember  there  is  a  Great 
Britain,  we  would  be  overwhelmed,  powerless,  from  the  force  o( 
such  successive  shocks  }  and  the  end  may  not  be  yet,  if  we  persist 
in  remaining  for  targets,  while  they  are  strengthening  themselves  in 
the  Northwest,  and  in  the  Gulf.  There  would  be  more  of  the  right 
spirit,  and  infinitely  more  of  real  manliness,  in  a  peaceful  but  de- 
cided demand  for  freedom  to  the  slave  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  than 
iu  a  miserable  scainpering  Lorn  state  to  state*  in  a  vain  endeavor  to 
V^l^er  the  crumbs  of  fireedom  ikeA  a  pro-slavery  besom  may  Sweep 
'W^lm^  pi  my  momeKi.  May  a  selection  for  the  best  be  Made,  now 
^^  "^?we,450!mtrid«  between  whitb  and  ^0  United  States  a  com- 
n|$f  l>«  iiptituted.    Alit^i  i»lding#thehtttd$Y  aiid^^^^^^^ 


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